This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef

Michael Hiltzig took aim at the pigs who would slash food stamp funding but add to the pockets of agricorps in his latest column.

As a member of Congress, Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) is proud to stand up for the principles of limited government and individual responsibility.

The first-term congressman expresses skepticism about such safety-net programs as food stamps, regarding them as the handiwork of an "oppressive" government that snatches wages from the hands of working people. Helping the poor is better left to individuals and churches, he said at a recent committee hearing in Washington, because then "it comes from the heart, not from a badge or from a mandate."

As a rice farmer from California's fertile Central Valley, however, this same Doug LaMalfa has done pretty well by the "oppressive" federal government. From 1995 through 2012, according to USDA figures compiled by the Washington-based Environmental Working Group, the farm he co-owns with other family members has collected $5.1 million in government crop subsidies. ...

The question for Rep. LaMalfa and his fellow food stamp hackers on the agriculture committee is: Why is it important for government to skip out on aid for families, but pony up for farmers like him?   [Emphasis added]

Why indeed?

At a time of high and prolonged unemployment, programs like SNAP are keeping body and soul together for a lot of Americans, those without access to cushy benefits like members of Congress have.  I guess that doesn't bother Rep. LaMalfa.  It sure bothers me.

What bothers me just as much is the sneaky snaky way he and his confreres have accomplished this.  Go read all of Hiltzig's column to see the details of the maneuvers executed.  It will amaze and disgust.

Gah!

A pox on all their houses.