69 Days: Dole puts politics over people and hurt North Carolina farmers

DAY 69

This month, Kay unveiled her comprehensive plan to reinvest in rural North Carolina, including its important farming economy. She crossed the state from wind farms in Beech Mountain to Pender Sharp’s farm in Sims to a fish house in Wanchese talking about her ideas to keep North Carolina’s rural communities vibrant. Yesterday, Elizabeth Dole responded by claiming she has been a “strong advocate” for North Carolina’s farmers, but when has she shown any dedication to them? When she voted against relief for crop losses, against energy tax credits for farmers, and against increased relief to farmers plagued by droughts and floods? What about when Dole voluntarily gave up her seat on the Agriculture Committee? Her decision to lead the NRSC in the 2006 election cycle put politics over people and hurt North Carolina farmers who needed a voice on the Agriculture Committee.

AGRICULTURE IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR DOLE, DESPITE IMPORTANCE TO NORTH CAROLINA

Dole Gave Up Seat On Agriculture Committee After Becoming Chair Of NRSC. In January 2005, Dole gave up her seat on the Agriculture Committee. Brian Nick, Dole’s spokesman, said Dole was sensitive to the concern that campaign work with the National Republican Senatorial Committee will take up time. But Nick points out that Dole traveled the country last year campaigning for President Bush and that she would be able to do most campaign work during breaks and weekends. [Raleigh News & Observer, 01/14/05]

Agriculture Contributes Billions Annually To North Carolina’s Economy. North Carolina’s agriculture industry, including food, forestry and fiber, contributes over $70.8 billion annually to the state’s economy. Agriculture accounts for 19% of the state’s income and employs over 16% of the workforce. [North Carolina State University, Viewed 7/31/08]

Dramatic Decrease In Number Of Farms In North Carolina. The number of farms has dropped dramatically from its peak in 1948 of 302,000 farms to 52,000 farms in 2004. North Carolina now has less than 17 percent of the farms it had in the late 1940s. [North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, Viewed 7/24/08]

North Carolina Has Lost 5,500 Farms Since 2003. As of 2007, North Carolina had 48,000 farms, which was a decrease of 5,500 farms from 2003, when North Carolina had 53,500 farms. [North Carolina Department of Agriculture, Viewed 7/24/08]

DOLE HAS VOTED AGAINST THE INTERESTS OF NORTH CAROLINA FARMERS

Dole Initially Voted To Filibuster Farm Bill. In November 2007, Dole voted to support a GOP filibuster of the 2007 Farm Bill. The bill would have provided $286 billion from fiscal 2008-2012 for federal farm, nutrition assistance, rural development and agricultural trade programs. The GOP blocked the bill over complaints that the number of amendments had been limited. [Vote 412, 11/16/07; Associated Press, 11/16/07]

Dole Voted Against Energy Tax Credit For Farmers. In November 2005, Dole voted against providing a Federal tax credit to farmers for 30 percent of their 2005 energy costs up to $3,000 per farmer. Qualified energy costs included those for fuels, utilities, fertilizers, heating and drying used in farming businesses of taxpayers during calendar year 2005. The $3 billion tax credit would be offset by closing tax loopholes for big oil companies. [Vote 345, 11/17/05; Congressional Record, 11/17/05]

Dole Was One Of Only 14 Senators To Vote To Limit Tax Credits For Farm Based Wind Energy Equipment. In December 2007, Dole was one of only 14 Senators to vote for an amendment that would have limited the tax credits in the Farm Bill for wind power equipment. The amendment would have limited the tax credit for expenditures on wind energy equipment to $4,000 per year. The credits only applied to wind turbines that have electricity-generating capacity of 100 kilowatts or less. [Vote 421, 12/12/07]

Dole Voted Delay Country Of Origin Labeling (COOL) For Two Years. Dole voted for the FY04 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which gave retailers an extra two years to begin putting country-of-origin labels on food. Working with the Bush Administration, Republicans added an amendment to the Omnibus Bill that delayed the implementation of Country of Origin Labeling until 2006. The Bush Administration had been resisting implementation because meat packers and processors, especially large corporations like Tyson and Cargill Foods, do not favor COOL. These companies want it killed because they are afraid it will cut into profits. [Vote 3, 1/22/04; Aberdeen American News, 1/30/04; Washington Post, 2/3/04; Congressional Quarterly, 1/21/04]

Dole Voted To Allow Kobe Beef To Come Into U.S., Even If Japan Continued Ban On U.S. Beef. In 2005, Dole was one of only 26 Senators to vote against a proposal to ban beef imports from Japan until that country opened its borders to U.S. beef. [Vote 236, 9/20/05; Omaha World-Herald, 9/21/05]

Dole Voted Against Mental Health Program For Farmers And Ranchers. In December 2007, Dole voted to remove funding from the bill for a program to provide mental health to farmers. The amendment would have struck language from the bill that established the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, a proposed mental health program for farmers and other agricultural workers. [Vote 418, 12/12/07]

DOLE CONSISTENTLY VOTED AGAINST RELIEF FOR NORTH CAROLINA FARMERS

Dole Voted Against $4.8 Billion In Drought, Flood Relief For Farmers. In 2006, Dole voted against adding $4.8 billion in emergency funding for drought, flood and fire relief to farmers and ranchers in fiscal year 2007. “Our farm and ranch families really face a desperate situation,” argued Senator Kent Conrad, who sponsored the funding proposal to cover the 2006 crop year. [Vote 271, 12/5/06; Southwest Farm Press, 12/8/06; Omaha World-Herald, 12/7/06]

Dole Voted Against Nearly Doubling Funding For Drought Relief For Farmers To $5.9 Billion. In 2003, Dole voted against providing $5.9 billion for drought relief, which would have roughly doubled funding for farmers affected by drought. It would also have limited drought relief to farmers who have suffered at least 35 percent crop loss. [Vote 16, 1/22/03]

Dole Voted Against Relief For Crop Losses. In November 2003, Dole voted against an amendment that have would required the agriculture secretary to spend such sums as necessary from the Commodity Credit Corporation for emergency financial assistance to farmers that have incurred qualifying crop and livestock losses for 2001, 2002 or 2003. [Vote 440, 11/5/03]

---Disclosure: I am Kay Hagan's Online Communications Director---