In what appeared to be a demonstration of the sugar industry’s political influence, the Senate voted
50 to 46 this month to table an amendment to the farm bill that would
have phased out tariffs that protect domestic producers from cheaper
offshore sugar.
The amendment, offered by New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and cosponsored by a bipartisan group of senators, aimed to phase out the federal government’s sugar program over several years. Voting against the amendment were 30 Democrats and 16 Republicans, including potential GOP vice presidential nominees Marco Rubio and John Thune.
The sugar industry has spent tens of millions of dollars lobbying and donating to politicians to keep sugar tariffs and subsidies in place so that sugarcane and beet farmers and others in the production chain can enjoy artificially high profits and keep foreign competition out of the marketplace.
In 2012 alone, the sugar industry spent nearly $2.5 million industry-wide on lobbying, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. On congressional elections this year, the industry has contributed $2.8 million in individual contributions and PAC funding.
Data collected from the Center for Responsive Politics show that the 16 Republicans who voted against sugar reform have received nearly $850,000 in individual and PAC contributions form the sugar industry since 1990.
The biggest recipients of sugar dollars among the sixteen were Georgia Rep. Saxby Chambliss and Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, who received more than $150,000 and $122,000, respectively. Both voted to table the sugar reform amendment.
Rubio and Thune have also received sizable donations from the sugar industry: $26,700 for Rubio and $45,150 for Thune.
The amendment, offered by New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and cosponsored by a bipartisan group of senators, aimed to phase out the federal government’s sugar program over several years. Voting against the amendment were 30 Democrats and 16 Republicans, including potential GOP vice presidential nominees Marco Rubio and John Thune.
The sugar industry has spent tens of millions of dollars lobbying and donating to politicians to keep sugar tariffs and subsidies in place so that sugarcane and beet farmers and others in the production chain can enjoy artificially high profits and keep foreign competition out of the marketplace.
In 2012 alone, the sugar industry spent nearly $2.5 million industry-wide on lobbying, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. On congressional elections this year, the industry has contributed $2.8 million in individual contributions and PAC funding.
Data collected from the Center for Responsive Politics show that the 16 Republicans who voted against sugar reform have received nearly $850,000 in individual and PAC contributions form the sugar industry since 1990.
The biggest recipients of sugar dollars among the sixteen were Georgia Rep. Saxby Chambliss and Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, who received more than $150,000 and $122,000, respectively. Both voted to table the sugar reform amendment.
Rubio and Thune have also received sizable donations from the sugar industry: $26,700 for Rubio and $45,150 for Thune.
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