Tea Party members in Congress are ranting against government expenditures while collecting money from the government. Judge them by their actions, not their talk.
As abc NEWS notes in an article entitled “Tea Party Hypocrisy? Some Lawmakers With Tea Party Ties Are on the Government Dole” (You can also access a video by first clicking on this link):
The Tea Party swept into the 112th Congress with promises of cutting government spending. But according to a report out today, at least five lawmakers with Tea Party connections have been longtime recipients of federal agricultural subsidies.
“There’s nothing too surprising about hypocrisy in Washington,” Ken Cook, president of Environmental Working Group, told ABC News. “This particular group, you not only have to look at the hypocrisy but you need to watch your wallet.”
While the majority of American farmers receive no government money at all, at least 23 current members of congress or their families have received government money for their farms — combining for more than $12 million since 1995 according to a new report from the Environmental Working Group.
The abc NEWS analysis notes that since 1995 23 current members of Congress, mostly Republicans or their families, have collected some $12,671,166.
Farm subsidies in 2009 totaled some $16.3 billion. Since 1995 some $246.7 billion dollars has been given out for farm subsidies.
“Self described Tea Party Patriot” and Republican Stephen Fincher of Tennessee received $3,254,324 since 1995.
Republican Representative Vicky Hartzler of Missouri received $774,489.
Republican Representative Mark Stutzman of Indiana received $180,000 since 1997.
You can read the summary of the Environmental Working Groups report by clicking here:
Government’s Continued Bailout of Corporate Agriculture.
You can access the list of who received farm subsidies by clicking here:
Total USDA Subsidies in United States 1995-2009
