Anyway -- I applaud Senator Schumer's leadership on this issue since it will not only help Greek yogurt makers in New York State but it will also help New York's struggling dairy industry.
Imagine how much it would help businesses here in New York and across the US if the Federal Government would make cuts in such things as gas taxes or getting rid of the federal Department of Energy, the amount that would be saved by both the industries (dairy and otherwise) and the citizens who would buy their products.
Never mind, don't imagine... here's the numbers directly from the USDA on what they spend per year. Notice the 6 MILLION dollars the head of the group gets each year (the "OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ECONOMIST).
These numbers are all in millions, so those with the commas? BILLIONS of dollars that could be kept by the taxpayers to help businesses such as Chobani in the FREE MARKET.
2011 2012 2013
Program Enacted Estimate Budget
Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services…….. $16,539 $12,864 $19,125
Rural Development……………………………………………2,795 2,491 2,402
Marketing and Regulatory Programs…………… 506 490 419
Research, Education, and Economics………… 1,222 1,217 1,192
Office of the Chief Economist…………………………… 6 6 6
Total…..…………………………………………………… $21,068 $17,068 $23,144
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