Ag Policy Blog

Administration Broadened Farmer Discrimination Payouts

Chris Clayton
By  Chris Clayton , DTN Ag Policy Editor
Connect with Chris:
@ChrisClaytonDTN

It took me about six paragraphs reading a New York Times article, "U.S. Opens Spigot After Farmers Claim Discrimination," to come to the conclusion: There will be congressional hearings over this one.

The Times wrote how the Obama administration paid Hispanic and women farmers even though "a succession of courts" had rejected most of the plaintiffs. Unlike the class-action lawsuit for black farmers, the "Pigford" case, the case involving Hispanics and women involved only 91 plaintiffs. Government attorneys were confident they could win the cases or limit the costs, the Times report. 

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But the Obama administration went against the advice of its Justice Department set aside $1.33 billion, paying thousands of people who had never filed a claim.

The Times said the settlement process "became a runaway train, driven by racial politics, pressure from influential members of Congress and law firms that stand to gain more than $130 million in fees."

Discrimination cases have seen more than 90,000 in claims.

The full Times piece can be read at http://dld.bz/…&

I can be found on Twitter @ChrisClaytonDTN

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Comments

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Ric Ohge
4/30/2013 | 10:05 AM CDT
This isn't right and left wing any more. The entire system is bought and paid for, and it's up to "We The People" to stop re-electing the same-old-same-old and finally DRAIN THE SWAMP!
Jay Mcginnis
4/30/2013 | 8:01 AM CDT
Still far far from the $800 billion plus that Bush gave to the banks for bail out of unlawful behavior, $35 billion for oil corporation lobbies. Whatever the story here is you right wingers still ignore what your party wastes and who benefits. If billionaires get richer that is fine, if poor people benefit then they are parasites.
Larry Jones
4/29/2013 | 9:19 PM CDT
Ric is right on this one, only change from this administration you can count on is- change your money into someone else's.
Ric Ohge
4/29/2013 | 10:42 AM CDT
"Change You Can Believe In?" I have three quarters in my pocket-I believe that's about all the change I'm going to get.
Bill Billson
4/29/2013 | 8:00 AM CDT
Obama continues to go to great lengths to sabatoge this country!
Lon Truly
4/26/2013 | 10:41 PM CDT
And still some people think government should be in charge of our health care and that government will lower the cost of health care.