Debate on Coburn Amendment 2293 to End Farm Welfare for Millionaires

THE SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA IS RECOGNIZED. MR. COBURN: I'D ASK THAT AMENDMENT 2293 BE CALLED UP. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL REPORT. THE CLERK: THE SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA, MR. COBURN, PROPOSES AMENDMENT NUMBERED 223. MR. COBURN: I WOULD ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE AMENDMENT BE CONSIDERED AS READ. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION. MR. COBURN: THIS IS A VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD AMENDMENT. LAST YEAR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PAID $10 MILLION TO TWO DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME OVER $1 MILLION THROUGH A WAIVER GRANTED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. BOTH OF THESE WERE INELIGIBLE, BUT WE GIVE THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE THE RIGHT TO WAIVE THAT. WHAT THIS AMENDMENT WOULD DO WOULD BE TO RESTRICT THAT RIGHT FOR A WAIVER FOR PEOPLE MAKING MORE THAN $1 MILLION A YEAR IN TERMS OF CONSERVATION PAYMENTS, AND I WOULD PUT INTO THE RECORD MY ENTIRE STATEMENT, IF I MAY, MR. PRESIDENT -- THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION. MR. COBURN: -- AND ALSO NOTE THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, BUT MOST OFTEN THESE PAYMENTS ARE PAID IN ADDITION TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DO ANYWAY. SO WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HAS DONE WELL OVER $180 MILLION TO MILLIONAIRES THROUGH OUR CONSERVATION PAYMENT ON PROGRAMS THEY WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE DONE THEMSELVES. SO I WOULD -- THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. MR. COBURN: THANK THE CHAIR. MS. STABENOW: MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD JUST INDICATE THAT THE CONSERVATION PROGRAM IS A VERY STRONG, EFFECTIVE PROGRAM BUT I'M NOT OBJECTING, NOR IS THE RANKING M EMBER, TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THE VOTE. I BELIEVE THE MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A RECORD ROLL CALL, IS