Support Begich-Flake Amendment #254

March 21, 2013

Dear Senator,

The undersigned organizations urge you to support Begich-Flake amendment #254 to the Senate Budget Resolution to bring transparency to the federally subsidized crop insurance program.

Federal taxpayers spent more than $14 billion on federal crop insurance in FY2012, including more than $7 billion in premium subsidies for producers who purchased crop insurance policies. Yet unlike other federal agriculture programs, including conservation programs, direct payments, and other commodity supports, taxpayers are unable to know the beneficiaries of these subsidies. Amendment #254 would require the Secretary of Agriculture to make federally subsidized crop insurance more transparent and bring it in-line with other federal agriculture programs.

We urge you to support Begich-Flake amendment #254 as a common sense step toward bringing transparency to the federal crop insurance program.

If you would like to discuss this further, please contact Joshua Sewell, josh [at] taxpayer.net or 202-546-8500 x116.

Sincerely,

Campaign for Liberty
Center for Individual Freedom
Competitive Enterprise Institute
Council for Citizens Against Government Waste
FreedomWorks
National Taxpayers Union
R Street Institute
Taxpayers for Common Sense
Taxpayers Protection Alliance