Bravo to those fighting sugar subsidies

Congratulations to Sen. Mark Kirk and Rep. Danny Davis for at least raising awareness of the unconscionable, job-killing, pernicious sugar price-support program. Though originally scheduled to sunset in 1940, this equivalent of a multibillion-dollar subsidy paid by every U.S. consumer yet once again was included in a comprehensive, wasteful and expensive farm bill. According to the Heritage Foundation, these producers have pocketed enormous profits by convincing legislators to compel Americans to pay over 40 percent above the world market price for sugar.

Not that this government-induced windfall comes without a price. In 2012, for example, U.S. sugar producers spent over $5 million on lobbyists and their political action committees contributed an additional $3.4 million to candidates, more than the combined amount spent by all other crop-dedicated PACs.

That's why all that Messers. Kirk and Davis will be able to do is complain about this program. They just haven't the money to persuade their colleagues to push these sugar-producing pigs away from gorging themselves at the public trough.

Bob Foys

Inverness