Just Another Convenient Excuse to Strangle America's Manufacturing Belt

Anybody else notice how the GOP's snappy criticism of subsidies and Federal loans dries up when talk turns to Farm and Cotton subsidies?

Oh sure...the GOP talks real tough about cuts to loans and and subsidies on the rare occasion it applies to manufacturing.

Now they're looking to use the East Coast hurricane disaster as a reason to drive a steel girder through the heart of manufacturing states.

House Republicans rolled out their plan to fund disaster relief in Majority Leader Eric Cantor's (R-Va.) district, but at the cost of almost half of remaining loans set aside to help the American auto industry.

Included in their plan for a continuing resolution to fund the government past Sept. 30 is a provision to cut $1.5 billion of the $3.4 billion in remaining funds for low-cost loans -- sometimes referred to as "Section 136 loans." The money would be reused to pay for aid to states as they clean up after recent natural disasters like Hurricane Irene and the rare east coast earthquake -- both of which greatly affected Cantor's Virginia district. The cost of disaster assistance is usually added to the budget deficit instead of offset with cuts.

$1.5 billion?

That's it?

You can do better than that.

Say, why don't you guys just march right on down to the Iowa Caucuses and tell those folks what's what with the same dose of disingenuous "economic realism" you can't help yourself but apply to the Manufacturing states. $22.3 billion in farm subsidies over 15 years? In just ONE state? Why...that's picking winners and losers.

Come on, let 'em have it.

Or better yet, go to the NUMBER ONE recipient of Federal Farm subsidies, the libertarian State of Texas who got $24.4 billion in farm subsidies from the evil, evil, evil, evil Gub'ment.

Let's see those brave, hard jaw'd conservative principles at work, guys.

Fact is, the GOP has it in for Michigan and other manufacturing states.

Maybe they recognize that the Great Lakes / Manufacturing region, the birthplace of the Middle Class, is still a threat to whatever bizarro return to British Colonial style aristocracy they pine for.

They just cannot help themselves but to try to beat us down at every possible turn.

Want your damn cuts to fund your hurricane?

Talk to Rick Perry. He's got your cash. Don't look at us, assholes.