To heck with Vermont and the Dairy Compact!

Vanity | 11/7/02 | DWPittelli

[fooman]

Did the replacement pass?

[Jim Noble]

$20/gallon tax on Vermont milk, to pay for Federal special education mandates.

It's for the children.

[Illbay]

EXCELLENT idea!!!

In fact, the more I think of it the better it sounds.

I really, really would like to see the day when Jim Jeffords says, publicly, maybe in an interview after his retirement from office, whatever: "My leaving the GOP was a huge mistake and I have lived to regret it deeply."

THAT would be sweet, my friend.

[DWPittelli]

You are right. The "Northeast Dairy Compact" has expired, and I should have looked up the latest terminology.

However, we still have a lot of milk subsidies in place:

Vermont Representative Bernard Sanders (I = Socialist)
9/30/02
Bernie Sanders said that some help for farmers is on the way from the USDA, which announced that farmers should receive retroactive payments by October 15th from the national dairy program that the Vermont delegation pushed through the Congress as part of the 2002 Farm Bill. These retroactive payments are estimated to total some $10 to 16 million, with the program providing an additional $38 million over the next few years. USDA’s announcement comes after significant pressure from the Vermont delegation to get the money out to farmers.

****
Rural News Friday, 10/5/2002
US Dairy Farmers Milk Subsidies
Dairy farmers in the United States will be paid on average two and half cents in subsidies for every litre of milk they produce, as part of the country's new Farm Bill.

Using current milk prices, that means a farmer with a herd of 140 cows will receive around $1500 a month from the government.

"If the fluid milk price in Boston falls below $US16.94 per 100 pounds in a particular month, producers throughout the USA will be compensated between $16.94 and the actual price," he said.

[NC28203]

The new program passed under the Dairy title of the 2002 Farm Bill provides pork (or should that be beef) to dairy farmers across the country instead of just the Northeast.
From thee USDA/ERS web page:
A new program for direct counter-cyclical payments to milk producers is legislated in the 2002 Farm Act. Eligible producers can receive a monthly payment calculated as 45 percent of the difference between $16.94 per cwt and the monthly Class I price in Boston announced under Federal . Milk Marketing Order 1 multiplied by their monthly "eligible milk production marketed." The payment for a single farm is made only on eligible production, up to 2.4 million pounds per fiscal year. This program covers eligible milk production from December 1, 2001 to September 30, 2005.

[Little Bill]

Since the Traitor crossed the line the price of butter is half of what it was, milk is down 20 cents a half gallon. The only people who benefitted from the compact were the large dairies.

[TheDon]

Well said, and it would actually be true!

[Straight Vermonter]

See post 24.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Yes, I believe we need to find a better place for milk subsidy monies. Perhaps the fine dairy farmers of Missouri would like that extra CA$H.

Add a note to Judas Jim, "Sorry, Mr. Man of Conscience who ran as a Republican and six months into your six year term switched parties--but the taxpayers of America aren't going to prop you up any longer."

[Recovering_Democrat]

I thought the legislature of Vermont had to determine the governor, since no candidate received 50% of the vote.

[ottersnot]

Best for us to stay quiet on this issue. The farmers will blame Jumpin Jim. We have to take him out in 06 now and we do not want antognize the voters. If the gov is likable maybe Carl R will give him the call in 06.
Yes, very wise words. Don't advertise any of the tactical moves the Republicans will make such as making the Tax cuts permanent etc... just do it. We don't need to brag or boast about what we are going to do. Just simply (if not quietly) do it.

[Jimmy Valentine]

"Now, I'm not saying we should send in troops to rape and loot their state. Or even that Vermont shouldn't get what should be coming to them like any other state (e.g., highway funds)."

Well, I'm for the 'Golden Horde" solution myself. Easy to do. Anyone who was not born in Vermont but moved there in the last 20 years is fodder for "The Wrath of the Great & Terrible Khan".

Regards,

[Cincinnatus]

>>it is too bad Vermont does not have a coastline. We could use it as a replacement for the controversial naval bombardment range at Vieques, Puerto Rico.<<

Take a look at Lake Champlain. Vermont has a LOOONG coastline. Birthplace of the American Navy at that, under the command of that great naval hero Benedict Arnold, which would make the plan even more appropriate, come to think of it.

[blau993]

I thought of that, but to get the ships into Lake Champlain would require either permission of the Canadians or a declaration of war.

Now, of course, a declaration of war on Canada is not like a declaration of war, say, on Belize. Belize actually has an Army. Don't know about a Navy, but Canada has no Navy, so they are pretty even there.

What would we want from Canada? How about we give them Maine and Vermont in return for everything west of Ottowa? Sounds right to me. Up yours Jeffords and Leahy!!!

[Cincinnatus]

As a theorist you are good, but you need some geography help. Lake Champlain is accessible through the Hudson-Champlain Canal. We already have a WWII destroyer sitting in Albany. Maybe just a simple recommissioning would send it on its way.