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U.S. gender wage gap grows for first time in a decade; Trump has embraced NC's Mark Robinson, calling him 'Martin Luther King on steroids'; Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN; Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's.

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Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Salazar and Others Torpedo Mega-Farm Subsidy Cap

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Monday, December 17, 2007   

Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate has finally passed a new farm bill, in the eleventh hour of its 2007 session. However, a provision to help family farmers by limiting the amounts of subsidies paid to mega-farmers didn't make the final cut.

Chuck Hassebrook with the Center for Rural Affairs says that's leaving many rural communities with a 'sinking feeling.' He believes the failed Dorgan-Grassley Amendment would have been good news for the vast majority of Colorado farmers.

"What it did was end the process of subsidizing the destruction of family farming by subsidizing mega-farms, to drive everyone else out."

A number of Southern senators had opposed the caps, but the key votes came from right here in our neighborhood, says Hassebrook.

"The Southerners did oppose it, but the key votes that killed a more family farm-friendly, and more rural community-friendly, farm bill came from Great Plains and Midwestern senators, in particular (Colorado) Senator Ken Salazar. Being a leader requires standing up to represent the good of all of rural America and all of agriculture, rather than caving in to the selfish few."

Hassebrook is especially disappointed because he says one of Salazar's campaign promises was to cap payments to mega-farms. Salazar has said the subsidies are an important safety net for Colorado farmers and ranchers.



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