The Agriculture Department sent $1.1 billion in farm payments to more than 170,000 dead people over seven years, congressional investigators said in a report released Monday by the Government Accountability Office. The findings come as the House of Representatives prepares to debate and pass farm legislation this week that would govern subsidies and the department's programs for the next five years.
GAO auditors reviewed payments from 1999 through 2005 in the report, which was requested by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. "It's unconscionable that the Department of Agriculture would think that a dead person was actively engaged in the business of farming," Grassley said.
See link - http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070724/a_capcol24.art.htm
Question - What are your thoughts ?
2007-07-24 15:30:30 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
I don't see how that could happen - all of the farmers' names were cross referenced with the registered democratic voters in the area to confirm their eligibility for subsidies.
Sure 'nuff - they were all on the democratic registered voter lists - and they all voted in the last election, too.
I'm befuddled and confused - is the government really sure they're dead?
I bet if they cross referenced their social security numbers, they'd find out that they are alive and picking crops in Southern California.
2007-07-24 15:42:20 · answer #1 · answered by LeAnne 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It sounds like the dead farmers cashed the checks. But while we're feeding the hysteria, did you know it costs the taxpayers about $1.50 to make $1 worth of ethanol? Why? It's a little political adage I learned a long time ago: "Keep the problem in the pockets of the businessmen." Remember it.
2007-07-24 22:40:34 · answer #2 · answered by bullwinkle 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
California alone spends over $10 billion a year on illegal aliens.
$1 billion for struggling midwest farmers over 7 years is nothing. Especially for ones with recently deceased heads of households.
2007-07-24 22:40:18 · answer #3 · answered by a bush family member 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Upset, yes. Suprised, no.
Dead people can vote. Why wouldn't we give them money also?
Isn't there some way we can have a private firm come in and audit the government?
2007-07-24 22:38:19 · answer #4 · answered by JonB 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Was a hole in the bureaucracy or intentional?
Either way it is the fault of the reps who are being paid to be good stewards of our tax dollars.
Yet party loyalist fight tooth and nail to defend these ignorant crooks in office.
2007-07-24 22:38:26 · answer #5 · answered by Chi Guy 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
E-mail the government and tell them to keep there hands out of our pocket books since they can't even balance theirs.
2007-07-25 00:34:20 · answer #6 · answered by Vivianna 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Who would really expect anything better from a governement headed by republicans?
.
2007-07-24 22:39:53 · answer #7 · answered by Brotherhood 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
typical of a mediocre unionized federal gov't with no incentive to do their jobs in a positive performance mode
2007-07-24 22:37:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think those who got the money should be prosecuted.
2007-07-24 22:33:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
are government is fuc..ked up an so is the invisible people who are in control of this fuc,,,,ked up world we live in big brother is watching
2007-07-24 22:39:38 · answer #10 · answered by the oz 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋