Farm bill reformers to meet up in DC
A few dozen critics of the farm bill from across the ideological spectrum — from the far right to the far left — are planning to meet up in Washington next Wednesday for a national summit on farm policy reform.
“It’s supposed to be a big tent meeting of the minds,” says Caroline Kitchens, a spokeswoman for the R Street Institute, a free-market think tank that’s co-hosting the event. “We will discuss the negative impacts our farm-support system has on the environment and on consumers but will mainly focus on safety net issues,” she added. The summit, which is not open to the public, will include representatives from conservation, conservative and consumer groups.
(Mostly) conservative might: In addition to the R Street Institute, the event will be co-hosted by National Taxpayers Union, Taxpayers for Common Sense, The Heritage Foundation, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Heartland Institute, Citizens Against Government Waste, Club for Growth, Campaign for Liberty and Taxpayers Protection Alliance.
Left and right: Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) will deliver opening remarks. Stayed tuned to MA for more on the conversation next week.
