Congressman Allen Boyd, the majority owner of Boyd Family Farms Inc., has received more that $1.5 million in federal farm subsidies for his farm though the funds were provided by a subcommittee in which is a member.According to the Panama City News Herald, the Monticello Democrat also sits on the agriculture subcommittee that has influence over a portion of the the government's primary agriculture policy bill, known as the Farm Bill. The bill includes millions in subsidy payments to private farmers and is supposed to act as a "safety net" for small farms that sometimes are subject to financial struggles.
According to the non-partisan Environmental Work Group, since 1996, Boyd's farms have averaged more than $120,000 in subsidy payments annually. This adds up to a total of over $1.5 million in federal farm subsidies since he's been elected, placing him in the top 3 percent of farmers receiving subsidies nationally, and 12th among more than 5,300 farms in his district that received subsidy money over this period.
Federal farm subsides aren't private funds, but your tax dollars paid to farmers. It seems that Allen Boyd hasn't been shy when it comes to receiving a substantial share of your tax dollars -- his farm ranks among the top 3 percent nationally.
The News Herald adds, that Boyd's "Tuten Cattle Farm" has also received $20,000 in subsidy payments.
The News Herald also did an analysis of average annual contributions to Mr. Boyd and learned that he received more than $199,416 from agriculture interests, his second largest contributor behind only finance, (surprise) insurance and the real estate sector.
Boyd has been attacked on YouTube by a group calling themselves the "Florida Whig Party" (below).
After being on camera for more than 30 minutes, in a conversation with the News Herald, Allen Boyd grew concerned about being taped as the conversation turned to farm subsidies. Watch the encounter below (following a brief ad).
OT: Sometimes I wonder why people should continue to vote. While I recognize my observation is a generalization, it seems all candidates, including incumbents, have made some unethical decisions in terms of finances or looking out for their personal interest. Just in the Lawson/Body competition, Boyd is accused of receiving $1.5M in subsidies that come out of a committee he serves on; yesterday, I heard a Boyd ad making an inference that Lawson, who owns an insurance company, benefited from voting to increase insurance rates in Florida.
ReplyDeleteDuring campaign season, there are always countless examples of candidates, regardless of party affiliation, whose ethics are questioned, yet we continue to vote them into office.
I will continue to vote, but also continue to wonder why?
The thing about Boyd's ads against Lawson is that it just makes wild claims and sights no references. Even if Lawson made $3m over 28 years that only amounts to a modest salary of about $103,000 a year.
ReplyDeleteWhat RN has done here is gone out and connected all the dots on Boyd's $1.5 farm subsidy for you to make up your own mind.
Is there really a big difference between Boyd's $120K average and Lawson's $103K average?
ReplyDeleteThe Republicans and independents appear to do the same things. Oh well.
4:08,
ReplyDeleteYes there is. Boyd is taking from the public trough. He was put on that Ag Approps committee to look out for the well being of farmers in his district and nationwide and it turns out he's the first in line with his hand stuck out.
Lawson's money could have been the culmination of an honest guy just trying to make a living selling insurance door-to-door.
*smh* Mr. Boyd should be investigated for this kind of sham.
ReplyDelete