Monday, July 30, 2012

What this country really needs...

...is another bureaucracy to monitor catfish.
It’s easy to guffaw at $14 million in waste when we are running a $1.7 trillion deficit, but let’s not forget our collective (and appropriate) outrage at NPR funding which by many accounts, receives less than $4 million per year directly from the government.

But $14 million is precisely what will continue to be wasted after the House Agriculture Committee approved the Farm Bill while rejecting an amendment by Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) which would have streamlined catfish inspections (yes, catfish inspections) and save taxpayers millions.

Unbelievably enough, the farm bill believes that the FDA, which already inspects catfish, needs helps from the US Department of Agriculture...
The FDA and the USDA, working side by side...

5 comments:

Marica said...

I saw this the other day and looked into it a tiny bit.

FYI: The catfish industry in AL, Ak, LA & MS accounts for 94% of all farm raised catfish. I've heard that the catfish industry in no longer in its heyday. When was the last time anyone in Portland or Cincinnati or ALbany saw "Mississippi farm raised catfish" on a menu? Insert some logic... . I suspect this is just another BIG BUSINESS/GOV'T attempt to drive out the little guy.

mojo said...

"What this country needs is a good five-cent nickel."

Anonymous said...

Deborah Leigh said...Mojo, that was for beer, right?

Minicapt said...

They called him the "Catfish Hunter".

Cheers

Paco said...

I can't believe you pitched that pun.