“Why on God’s green earth would I need to know all the details when I’m not serving in the Senate right now?” said an exasperated California bank owner.
For the third time in less than a week, Republican US Senate candidate Eric Hovde has dismissed the notion that he should have a position on Wisconsin farming—specifically, what he would fight to include in the next Farm Bill, now more than a year behind schedule.
The Farm Bill is a large package of legislation that impacts everything from export markets to conservation programs to nutrition programs for children.
In his debate with Sen. Tammy Baldwin last Friday, Hovde said he didn’t have to know about the Farm Bill because he’s not in the Senate yet.
“Well, I’m not an expert on the Farm Bill because I’m not in the US Senate at this point in time,” Hovde responded to a panelist’s question. “So I can’t opine specifically on all aspects of that, um, Farm Bill.”
“But one of the problems I have with a lot of the farm bills is they’re ‘masquerading’ as farm bills,” Hovde continued, making finger quotes. “And while they address some of the needs of farmers, a lot of the bills are just funding big corporations that have nothing to do with farming. So I have a great concern about that, and I think farm bills need to get back for farmers.”
Hovde did not offer examples of the corporations he was talking about.
On Monday, Hovde complained about the Farm Bill question to a conservative radio host.
“How about the question… on the agricultural bill,” said in a show carried on on WISN Radio. “Like I’m supposed to have studied in depth.”
Hovde has opined on many other topics during his campaign, but he bristled again on Tuesday after reporters asked about his agricultural views as he voted early.
“Why on God’s green earth would I know all the details in a Farm Bill when I’m not serving in the Senate right now?” he exclaimed.
Hovde was not asked about knowing all the details, only if he has a position on legislation that affects a major part of the Wisconsin economy. The debate question was: What will it take for each of you to vote on a Farm Bill?
Hovde also questioned whether Baldwin knew “one-tenth of what’s in the bill,” but Baldwin has extensive experience on the agriculture subcommittee of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and long list of federal investments made in Wisconsin agriculture.
“In fact,” wrote Wisconsin Examiner Editor-in-Chief Ruth Conniff, “Baldwin wrote a number of provisions of the Senate’s Farm Bill framework, including dairy business innovation grants, protections for farmers who face a sudden drop in milk prices or increase in the cost of feed, mental health supports for agricultural communities, a federal program to track foreign investment in US farmland, upgrades for rural drinking water infrastructure and funding for rural hospitals, child care and economic development.”
Baldwin’s work for farmers won her the endorsement of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, their first endorsement of statewide Democratic candidate in at least 20 years.
Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Arik Wolk issued a statement ripping Hovde’s comments.
“The farmers in America’s Dairyland who work God’s green earth are exactly the reason that California banker Eric Hovde should care about the farm bill,” Wolk said. “Wisconsinites will be better off when Eric Hovde goes back to his $7 million Laguna Beach mansion.”
