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[Page: H1998]  GPO's PDF
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   The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake) is recognized for 5 minutes.

   Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow we will vote on the conference report of the farm bill . I think it is important to stand up and express opposition to this measure. I think it is probably the worst piece of legislation we will vote on this year. It has been called the largest expansion of the Federal Government on domestic terms aside from military policy in this great society.

   If you look at it over the next 10 years we will be spending, the average American family will spend about $1,800 just in taxes to support the subsidy payments as part of this farm bill . Above and beyond all that, the average American family will spend about $2,500 in increased and inflated food prices because of the price supports inherent in this bill .

   I grew up on a farm , I am one of 11 children in northern Arizona. And one of my more unusual chores growing up was what I called bloat watch. I would sit on the top of a hill and overlook the alfalfa field where cattle were grazing. And when a critter would assume the ``I'm bloated and I cannot get up position,'' I was to rush to the field with a knife in hand and stab the critter high on the left side behind the last rib. I am sure it was not very pleasant, but it would save the critter's life. And silage pent-up gas would spew and rain down all over. But it was the only thing that would save the critter.

   It is much like this farm bill . I feel like reaching for my knife whenever we debate it. It is bloated bigger than ever, and we have got to take some drastic measures to rein it in.

   I think that it is not only bad policy, I think that is accepted by just about everyone, but it is bad politics by Republicans. We have always stood for freedom as opposed to security. I think it is not ironic that the farm bill is replacing the Freedom to Farm Act with the Farm Security Act. I think we are going the wrong direction when we do this. We have to stand for freedom in all areas. Farmers ought to be free for all they want and gain a profit for what they sell, not to be told by government how much they can plant and when they can plant it.

   We are moving far, too far away from the free market. I hope we will reconsider. I hope if we do not reconsider, that the President is waiting with veto pen in hand.

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