Posted on 02/06/2010 6:16:40 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Lobbyists for black farmers are pushing the White House to step up efforts to resolve longstanding discrimination claims.
The Obama administration has asked Congress to provide $1.15 billion for discrimination claims the farmers won more than a decade ago against the Department of Agriculture. The money would be in addition to $100 million already in place.
The budget request is the same as one made last year. But no funds ended up being appropriated by Congress, leaving lobbyists and black lawmakers frustrated with the president for allegedly dropping the ball.
“I’m very disappointed, given that myself and other black farmers went out of our way to support the president,” said John Boyd Jr., president and CEO of the National Black Farmers Association. “We want that same fighting spirit from Barack Obama as president that will transpire into results.”
Boyd has been a constant presence on Capitol Hill over the past year, lobbying lawmakers to appropriate funds to resolve the lingering discrimination claims against the Department of Agriculture (USDA). First he tried for the agriculture appropriations bill, then the defense spending bill and finally the House-passed jobs bill, but found no success in the end.
At stake is a historic discrimination suit black farmers won against the federal government in 1999, known as the Pigford settlement. In the deal, federal authorities agreed to compensate black farmers for USDA’s past prejudices.
But thousands of farmers missed the filing deadline to apply for compensation, prompting members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) to seek to reopen the lawsuit. They triumphed in 2008 when lawmakers added $100 million to the Farm Bill that would begin to pay back late Pigford filers. Obama, then an Illinois senator, was key in making sure that the fund was included in the legislation.
But lawmakers were roiled last year by court filings from Obama’s Justice Department that contended the $100 million was capped, and not a starting point. That led to a series of meetings held with CBC members, Attorney General Eric Holder and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to discuss the administration’s position.
Frustration between the administration and some CBC members over the black farmers’ claims bubbled into public view last year.
In September, Rep. Artur Davis (D), who is running for Alabama governor, offered legislation to explicitly reject the Justice Department’s filings and provide more funding for the discrimination claims. Further, five CBC members wrote to Obama on Dec. 18, pushing the White House to find a legislative vehicle for additional funds.
“We urge you to ensure that funds are added to one of the major appropriations bills, or other available vehicle, to begin in earnest the process of providing justice to these longstanding Pigford claimants,” the letter stated.
Reps. Robert “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.), John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), Davis, David Scott (D-Ga.) and John Lewis (D-Ga.) all signed the letter.
The administration says it has not forgotten the black farmers’ discrimination claims and will push for them to be resolved this year, starting with Monday’s budget request.
“Since his first days at USDA, Secretary Vilsack has made it clear that he is committed to closing this unfortunate chapter in the department’s history,” said Justin DeJong, USDA’s press secretary. “Ensuring equitable treatment of all USDA employees and clients is a top priority for Secretary Vilsack. He has issued a clear policy and a comprehensive plan to improve USDA’s record on civil rights and made it clear to all employees that discrimination of any form will not be tolerated at USDA.”
Under the Obama administration, the department has beefed up its civil rights division, with field investigators in place for the first time since 1997. In addition, USDA has begun a series of civil-rights training sessions for its field offices and is setting up a congressionally mandated ombudsman to handle disputes.
Boyd is not relenting. Starting this week he will lead protests throughout the South and ending at USDA’s Washington headquarters for black farmers’ claims to be paid off. Nevertheless, he considers himself a big Obama supporter.
“What I am questioning is the White House’s priorities to get this done,” Boyd said. “The black farmers shouldn’t be put on the back burner and be told to wait.”
But they'll still vote for him no matter what.
I just did a little research and it sounds like they got justice (or a freebie) and didn’t take advantage of it and now want to blame someone else.
They had 180 days and then an additional year to file the papers and they didn’t.
I don’t think they deserve anything. Dang it! If that had been white people who didn’t do their part, no one would care.
What are we back to 100 acres and a mule again? Geez Louise! The sense of entitlement is breathtaking.
What are we back to 100 acres and a mule again? Geez Louise! The sense of entitlement is breathtaking.
Sorry for the double post.
I take offense to your very general condescending comment to our nation’s food producers.
In very very general terms without replying with a thesis to you debating the pros and cons of this issue it all started when the damn govt started to stick their nose in the business of farmers and ranchers. Remember the impacts of the wheat embargo not to mention the price control measures undertaken in the 1970’s on our beef producers?
If the damn gov’t would have kept their nose out of food production, we wouldn’t need their stinking “help” in the first place.
Besides, don’t belly ache about our US farmers and ranchers with your mouth full. Perhaps you would be happier purchasing all your food that is produced in Mexico and China?
I guess since we can't make cars without government money and we can't make mortgages without government money it makes sense we can't make food without government money.
White farmers are reimbursed for NOT growing beans. Black farmers want reimbursed for not owning farms!
Not to worry. He’ll soon implement the same “land reforms” Mugabe implemented in Zimbabwe.
And, like Zimbabwe, we’ll all soon be starving.
We we’re movin’ on up... (movin’ on up)
Black farmers cry... (movin’ on up)
We’ll finally get a piece of the pie...
Ol’ Barack’s really an incompetent idiot, ain’t he?
Do you agree with these farmers’ political position on this subject or not?
If so - please explain why they deserve largesse from the federal government based on constitutional principles.
If not - then please explain why snarky comments on the POLITICAL decision these farmers made to support Obama in order to get federal welfare for themselves expanded are so outrageous.
These farmers are not making an agriculture or even financial decision here - they are making a political stand.
I am sorry I came down so hard on you. I apologize.
I do not disagree with you at all....... Once the gov’t sticks their nose in ANY industry, it is screwed plain and simple.
My father has been busting his backside as a farmer/rancher for almost 60 years and is still actively farming at 72 years of age. He and my mother raised three sons and put them through college. Has he had a “good” life? I would say yes. Is he wealthy and put on the dog? No.
I shudder at the thought of who is going to want to take the reins of this industry in the future? Given all the challenges of market volatility, gov’t regulation, unpredictable weather, etc, I sure as hell wouldn’t consider leaving what I am doing now to go back to the farm.
MFO
Your point is well taken. Plain and simple, I detest entitlements. No, I do not agree on this specific segment’s political position. However, it is not fair to lump all food producer’s into this controversy.
Quick story: My father farms in SE Colorado and was told by the state to destroy nearly 40 acres of alfalfa because the field was located adjacent to a swamp and the tap roots from the plants were depleting the water that should eventually flow into the Arkansas river for the Kansas farmers. He told them to go to hell and they eventually left him alone.
I am not a supporter of subsidies in general but as I said earlier, the darn gov’t gets involved and then the wheels fall off.
I definitely agree with your position. IMO, so does 2banana, who was pointing out the irony of farmers demanding government subsidy - as if the subsidy were the source of prosperity.
BTW - “Hale and well met” to a fellow Kansas transplant!
“Cause no one can be a successful farmer without government money...”
Well, some DO have that mindset, LOL! My husband’s family has been farming since the 70’s and aside from some set-aside land in trees, we don’t get jack from Mother Government. Never have. Never will. :)
“Ol’ Barack’s really an incompetent idiot, ain’t he?”
He sure is. And I can name 3/4 of Congress that needs to go, too!
Man, I can’t WAIT until Sarah is running things. :)
Actually, they’ve been farming since well before the 70’s...like since 1848, LOL!
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