Heidi Heitkamp Statement on Senate Farm Bill Debate
Following is the statement of Heidi Heitkamp after the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to consider the Farm Bill, which is critical for some 16 million jobs across the country:
“I’m happy to see the Senate overwhelmingly agreed to put the gridlock on pause and vote to consider a Farm Bill that protects crop insurance and reduces the deficit,” said Heidi Heitkamp. “I hope Rep. Berg will call on his colleagues in the house to quit playing politics, stop targeting nutrition programs for seniors and low-income families, and get this critical bill passed for North Dakota.”
BACKGROUND:
What Rick Berg Says In NORTH DAKOTA: Rick Berg Claimed He Opposed $180 Billion In Cuts To The Farm Bill. According to the Bismarck Tribune: “Rep. Rick Berg, R-N.D., also gave his thoughts on the farm bill. ‘The balance of this $180 billion is talking about nutritional programs,’ Berg said. According to the fiscal year 2013 Senate Agriculture Committee baseline budget, approximately 82 percent of farm bill spending comes from nutritional programs. ‘To be perfectly clear, I support the Senate bill,’ Berg said.” [Bismarck Tribune, 4/4/12]
What Rick Berg Does in WASHINGTON: Rick Berg Voted For The Paul Ryan Budget Plan, Which Cuts $180 Billion From The Farm Bill. Rick Berg voted for the Paul Ryan budget, which would cut $180 billion in funds from the Farm Bill over the course of ten years. [Vote 151, 3/29/12; Great Plains Examiner, 2/13/12]
Berg: “No Question” We Can Cut SNAP. According to AgWeek: ”There’s no question when we come to common sense cost savings, there’s no question that in the SNAP program and nutritional programs we can’t be smarter and leverage those dollars more.” [AgWeek, 4/9/12)]
Berg Falsely Claimed That ”Not One Person Would Be Cut From SNAP.” According to the Fargo Forum: Berg said, though, that “there’s not one person that currently qualifies (for SNAP) that’s cut from the program” because of the proposed spending reductions. However, non-profits and think-tanks are saying otherwise, and Heitkamp’s campaign is using the data to call out Berg.” [Fargo Forum, 4/19/12]
· In 2011, More Than 60,000 North Dakotans Received SNAP Assistance. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2011 60,902 North Dakotans participated in the SNAP program. [USDA, 3/31/1
· Cuts Would Likely Kick 3 Million People Off SNAP. According toReuters: “The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote to lawmakers on Monday asking that they preserve funding for domestic and international food aid. The nonprofit Food Research and Action Center said on its website on Wednesday that the restrictions could push up to 3 million people out of the food stamp program.” [Reuters, 4/18/12]
· Headline: “Republicans to slash food stamps” [Politico, 4/16/12]
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