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Roby Opposed Budget Deal

By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter

On Monday, November 10, US Representative Martha Roby (R-Montgomery) in an email to constituents explained her “no” vote on the bipartisan budget compromise that keeps the government funded by raising the debt ceiling; but funds President Obama’s spending priorities through the remainder of his presidency.

Congresswoman Roby said, “I Voted No on the Budget. Here’s Why: I was asked earlier how I voted on this latest budget deal that sets the overall spending levels for Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017. I voted against it and I’d do it again. There are several reasons why.  To name a few, the top-down process by which the bill was conceived was all wrong, and I believe we could have charted a much stronger fiscal course.”

Representative Roby continued, “But, more specifically, I could not support the budget deal because of the way it broke faith with the agriculture community and gutted the crop insurance program by $3 billion. As someone who worked hard back in 2012 and 2013 to pass a good, conservative Farm Bill that actually saves money, I remember what a big deal it was when we ended direct farm payments and moved to a more conservative, sustainable crop insurance program. It was a needed reform, but it only worked because the agriculture community knew it could count on a reliable risk management program to keep an otherwise volatile industry stable.”

Rep. Roby said, “When you mess around with the crop insurance program, you aren’t just affecting farmers who put the seed in the ground. You’re affecting the ones who sell the seed, who build the equipment to cultivate and harvest the crop and those who help process the goods to their final products.” “I’ve co-sponsored the Crop Insurance Restoration Act authored by Rep. David Young of Iowa to undo this irresponsible action, and I look forward to working with Rep. Robert Aderholt, fellow Alabamian and chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, to ensure proper crop insurance levels are restored”

Congressman Young’s bill, HR3845 – the Crop Insurance Restoration Act, would repeal the crop insurance reductions to honor the levels of insurance that Congress committed to in the 2014 Farm Bill.

Congressman David Young (R-Iowa) said, “This is exactly why Iowans and the American people do not trust the process in Washington. The majority of Iowa farmers I speak to feel like they are under attack by their own government. Cutting crop insurance in the current agriculture economy is simply not smart, so my legislation restores those funds and keeps our promise to farmers.”

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Rep. Young said, “Rural America deserves to have a voice championing their priorities in Congress. I will work tirelessly to fight back against regulations from the Waters of the US rule to proposed cuts to the Renewable Fuel Standard levels; this uncertainty is hurting our farmers and the agricultural industry.”

Congresswoman Martha Roby has been endorsed by the Alabama Farmer’s Federation.

Rep. Roby is being challenged in the March 1 Republican Primary by Wetumpka Tea Party President Becky Gerritson and Robert “Bob” Rogers.

 

Brandon Moseley is a former reporter at the Alabama Political Reporter.

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