Letter to Editor In Fargo Forum & GFH Sunday edition
Collin Peterson favors the 7th’s wealthy farmers
Alan Roebke, Alexandria, Minn.
Published: January 31, 2010 12:00:00 AM CST As average citizens of the 7th Congressional District struggle with today’s financial mess, including home foreclosure, health care costs and job loss, Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., focuses his attention on continued government support for the district’s financial elite, its farmers, who, even with record income over the past four years, still receive annual government subsidy checks, plus an even bigger perk, subsidized crop insurance.
As House Agriculture Committee chairman, Peterson told wheat farmers Monday that he plans to start holding hearings this spring for a 2012 farm bill. When asked about direct payments, which amount to about
$5 billion a year (crop insurance premium subsidies of another $5 billion), he said he’s not fond of direct payments and finds them hard to justify, but said he would fight for them if farm groups make the case that they are the best method of (farm) program support.
And he also said, according to DTN news service, “We need something that can get you (farmers) back your cost of production, so you can farm next year … We’re not doing that now.” But it is difficult to fashion such a system, he said.
So after 20 years in Congress, Peterson says he doesn’t know how to address farmers’ No. 1 historic issue, cost of production, other than with continued taxpayer cash. So what about the concerns of the remaining 90 percent of the district’s citizens? Who will make a case for the best method to address their problems? Or is it simply time for a new congressman to represent all the citizens of the 7th Congressional District of Minnesota and not just its wealthy farmers?
The Evolution of U.S. Tax Policy in My Life Time!!!
I think all U.S. Taxpayers should read this piece and forward it to a friend! For this PDF needs to be part of the national debate on wealth and power! Read and Think! http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~saez/piketty-saezJEP07taxprog.pdf
USDA-FSA need to Administer Federal Crop Insurance!
News Release or Letter to the Editor:
Federal Crop Insurance should be Administered by USDA-FSA!
As the USDA Risk Management Agency struggles to renegotiate a new Standard Reinsurance Agreement with Private Crop Insurers. Why isn’t Agriculture Secretary Vilsack directing USDA-RMA officials and local County FSA employees to put a true government alternative on the table to address the runaway costs of Federal Crop Insurance.
For without a true alternative on the table, the private insurers have the upper hand in retaining their Insurance Gravy Train. Where American Taxpayers bare the risk and private insurer’s profit, as pointed out in the taxpayer funded Milliman report to USDA. Plus USDA data shows the taxpayer cost for Crop Insurance for the 2007 crop at $3.8 billion and jumping to $7.7 billion for the 2008 crop. Costing taxpayers more than the traditional farm subsidy checks sent for the 2008 crop. All this under a period of good yields and near record prices for major crops. But it’s still not news worthy to the national press, even while the health care and deficit debate rages over costs. This lucrative Federal program quietly protects Farmers enjoying the best of times without a national examination of them or their agents.
What taxpayers and Congress fail to understand, is that local county Farm Service Centers have the data and factual relationships with farmers, to deliver the program at a fraction of the cost of private insurers. Yet where are the congressional budget hawks to hold an independent public hearing, to consider this real government option for major cost saving for today’s taxpayers?
The missing fact of life for local USDA office sites and FSA employee’s is the need to retain their local location and jobs. As President Obama and Congress are forced to bring spending cuts inline to address the Federal deficit. So why aren’t these local FSA employee’s addressing the economic environment their in. Just as Post office cuts take place both nationally and in rural areas which will surely move into their offices if they don’t become pro-active. For today’s financial reality shows Farmers no longer need the historic direct payments subsidies that were the basis for these offices. Yet today our financially strong Farmers only need a sound commodity loan program to manage crop inventories to address fair market pricing! So administrating Crop Insurance with much lower costs can be the FSA offices 2010 innovation!
For the present buffet of Federal Crop Insurance options available to America’s Farmer’s is an outrage. For in 2010 the premium subsidies are paying as much as 81% of the cost of insurance for millionaire Farmers, with no subsidy limit’s and many options for insurance driven profits! All as 47 million needy Americans go without health insurance! So where’s the Justice President Obama, Secretary Vilsack and members of Congress?
Alan Roebke (REB-key) Alexandria Minnesota
Here is what one County office director said: Alan, Our employee association has argued FSA taking over crop insurance for quite some time. Hopefully, one day we can get somewhere with it!!
Thanks – very interesting…
Take care.
Funding Vehicle For Health Care Reform
The Hybrid Funding Vehicle needed for Healthcare Reform and Access in 2010!
“The Alan Roebke (REB-key) Plan”Under the plan, all 47 million uninsured American’s will be covered, using this funding vehicle. At a lower government cost and better coverage, than any other proposed plan. For all uninsured income receiving adults will contribute to this funding Vehicle. As well as all U.S. employer’s which have employees without health insurance or have employees with no employer health insurance support. This plan also includes and supports self-employed individuals and families without health insurance coverage and need at least short term help.
The funding will come from a minimum contribution of $25/week, from all uninsured employees and self employed, individuals without insurance or $1300/year/adult. This contribution amount will also come from unemployment benefits and other government support received! Allowing a “work day”, to earn said $25 dollars without reductions in benefits or States can contribute to the $25 for an adult or act as an employer as well.
All employers will contribute a minimum of $25/week/uninsured employee ($50 for seasonal) or self- insured employees without employer support or $1300/year/employee. The State can act as an employer!
The Federal government will also contribute $25/week/citizen, Man, Woman and Children without health insurance or $1300/year each. Which would include an arbitrated income cap, access review and contribution formula’s, selected by industry and or Congress. With best options and market access revealed to the insured, by the employer, insurer and HHS. Allowing the insured to include State Agency’s and non-profit advisor support in final selection and eligibility process.
This means an uninsured family unit of four, will have a total of $10,400/year to purchase a private health insurance policy and start a health savings account. The funds come from the $2600/year from their two adult employers. An additional $2600 from the Federal Government for the two income generating adults and $1300 each for the two children or another $2600/year. Plus a $2600/year contribution from the income producing adults. The plan also allows a State offered health policy or plan and a Federal selected or suggested policy from HHS. Allowing the immediate start of a health savings accounts from this plan to address Dental needs. As health insurance guidelines, are worked out for this new insurance plan by Congress. This plan is operated using our present government and private payroll computer systems. To collect and transfer funds, so uninsured citizens simply have the funds to purchase private health insurance on their own or through their employer or State!
The cost of this plan will be capped at $610 billion over ten years or $61 billion per year. Compared to the latest Obama plan of $950 billion or the Trillion Dollar plus plans from Congress. It’s a good number because many can contribute more than $25 and healthcare costs will drop under good governance and our need to deflate all U.S. market costs.
Roebke developed this hybrid, based on the McCain – Obama view of healthcare from the 2008 campaign. Which includes the rival views of today’s Republicans and Democrats or Liberal and Conservative debate. Yet this plan addresses the fact that all Americans need health insurance at sometime and insuring all, best addresses costs. When all income producing adults, contribute to their Families healthcare needs and the plan/vehicle delivers real healthcare justice for all.
Roebke also views his vehicle/plan, as a major cost cutting tool for State budgets! Allowing each State to have better healthcare coverage for low income citizens, with needed Federal help.
Drafted by Alan Roebke (REB-key) Alexandria Minnesota, www.CongressionalChange.com This copyright plan or vehicle can be published as a “Letter to the Editor” or used in news pieces if source is credited! First posted on Agweb-discussions!
