Almost Two Dozen Members Of Congress Get Farm Subsidies
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The Environmental Working Group has determined that at least 23 representatives and senators or their family members applied for farm subsidy payments between 1995 and 2009.
Seventeen of the named recipients were Republicans and six were Democrats. In total, the GOP took in more than $5.3 million, compared to only $489,856 for Democrats.
The biggest beneficiaries of farm subsidies in the current Congress have been:· Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tennessee) $3,368,843
· Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Missouri) $469,292
· Rep. Kristi Noem (R-South Dakota) $443,748
· Sen. John Tester (D-Montana) $442,303
· Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa) $330,046
Fincher, a self-described Tea Party patriot, who lists his occupation as "farmer" and "gospel singer" in the Congressional Directory, did not directly say whether he would continue to take subsidies, when asked by ABC News.
"We need a good, better, we need a better farm program and we need to streamline it," he said. "We need to look at many many options. And that's a long way off."
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First Posted: 04/04/11 01:45 PM ET Updated: 06/04/11 06:12 AM ET