chaparral wrote:
Justgeorge wrote:
Is he correct that's what the bill has in it? If so, he is correct, it has nothing to do with covid-19 and it's picking choosing who to give money to based on the color of their skin. If Farmers have been hurt by covid-19 and I'm sure they have, then they should be given relief based on the fact that they're farmers and not based on the color of their skin. And hopefully it's directed towards small farmers and not large conglomerates.
The answer to your question is in the post your are replying to. And the answer is no, Lindsey is not correct. He is blowing the racist dog whistle very loud. He is telling people to be upset that 25% of the disadvantaged farmers that qualify for the program happen to be black and even thought the majority of people that qualify are white, he calls it reparations. Lindsey Graham is being very dishonest in order to make racists mad, which I think we should all agree is bad.
The answer is not really in the post he replied to. The post describes a bunch of aid going to farmers, but it doesn't talk to the specifics of the relief measure Sen Graham mentioned. Do you know if this specific measure provides different benefit to minority farmers? It's been described that way in several sources.
Here's what the bill actually says:
Quote:
SEC. 1005. FARM LOAN ASSISTANCE FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS.
(a)
Payments. -
(1) APPROPRIATION.β
In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2021, out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary, to remain available until expended, for the cost of loan modifications and payments under this section. (2) PAYMENTS.β
The Secretary shall provide a payment in an amount up to 120 percent of the outstanding indebtedness of each socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher as of January 1, 2021, to pay off the loan directly or to the socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher (or a combination of both), on each - (A)
direct farm loan made by the Secretary to the socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher; and (B)
farm loan guaranteed by the Secretary the borrower of which is the socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher. (b)
Definitions.β
In this section: (1) FARM LOAN.β
The term β
farm loanβ
meansβ (A)
a loan administered by the Farm Service Agency under subtitle A, B, or C of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1922 et seq.); and (B)
a Commodity Credit Corporation Farm Storage Facility Loan.
(2) SECRETARY.β
The term β
Secretaryβ
means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(3) SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMER OR RANCHER.β
The term β
socially disadvantaged farmer or rancherβ
has the meaning given the term in section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a)) The definition of "socially disadvantaged" according to 7 USC 2279(a) is:
Quote:
(5) Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher
The term "socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher" means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group.
(6) Socially disadvantaged group The term "socially disadvantaged group" means a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities.
Sounds to me like Sen Graham is describing pretty much what the law says.
Slowguy
(insert pithy phrase here...)