California State Senator Sam Aanestad; ethically
disadvantaged
By Dave Palmer from The Watchdawg at
noethics.net
California State Senator Sam Aanestad was unfortunately elected
in Nov. 2002 to represent the good folks in the Grass Valley area.
Sam Aanestad laughingly claims to be a fiscal conservative;
albeit not when it comes to hosing the public to provide him with a free ride,
which includes unlimited fuel and maintenance, plus liability insurance. Put
simply, Senator Sam Aanestad is just another fiscal conservative in name only
(aka, hypocrite) when it comes to hosing (pun intended) the public for a free
ride.
Given Sam’s admitted wealth as an oral and maxillofacial
surgeon, ya’d think he’d be able to afford to pay for his own ride, right? When
asked to comment on why he felt it was acceptable to purchase fancy rides on
the taxpayer’s dime, Ol’ Sam’s response is depicted in the photo to the right.
From 2003 through 2008 the taxpayers were hosed to the tune of
$165,286 to provide ol’ Sam with luxury rides of his choosing. This comes out
to a yearly average of $27,048 a year. Compare this to the annual median income
of his Butte County constituents which is $31,924.
The text box below details exactly how Senator Sam “The Fiscal
Conservative” Aanestad went about implementing his conservative values when
dealing with his constituents.
2003 Ford Expedition – 12/02/02 = $45,393.91
2007 Chrysler 300M – 03/01/07 = $43,780.70
|
Year |
Fuel |
Gals. |
Miles |
Year |
Fuel |
Gals. |
|
2003 |
$3,309.98 |
2,246 |
15 mpg |
2004 |
$3,432.14 |
1,855 |
|
2005 |
$3,967.49 |
1,606 |
|
2006 |
$5,392.10 |
1,919 |
|
2007 |
$5,156.71 |
1,696 |
21 mpg |
2008 |
$7,883.26 |
2,246 |
|
|
|
191,172 |
|
$29,148.68 |
11,568 |
$24,948.00 = Lease costs
$19,014.53 = Maintenance costs =
$3,169 yearly average
$11,987.31 = Maintenance 2005/2006 =
$5,994 per year
Does California Assemblyman Doug La Malfa deserve election to State Senate?
By Dave Palmer from The Watchdawg at noethics.net
Folsom, California
If I was a voter in the 4th State Senate District in
California, I can assure you that I wouldn’t even consider voting for this
ethically deprived individual.
Unfortunately, Doug La Malfa was successful in duping the voters
in the 2nd Assembly District into voting him into office beginning
in Nov. 2002 and for two additional terms thereafter.
Doug La Malfa likes to portray himself as a fiscal
conservative; however, when it comes to enriching himself at public expense,
his so-called brand of conservatism becomes a non-issue.
Shortly after assuming office in Dec. 2002, Doug La Malfa was of
the opinion that he was entitled to hose the public by ordering a 2003 Mustang
Mach 1 at a cost to the public of $28,957. Doug La Malfa had the chutzpah to
claim that he needed a Mach 1 to perform his official duties. Sure he did! Just
like the late Jeffrey Dahmer required a Kitchen-aide vegetable dicer because of
his desire to become a certified vegetarian!
From 2003 through 2008, it cost the taxpayers of California
$65,584 to provide Doug La Malfa with a “muscle car” to allegedly serve the
best interests of his constituents. The absurd costs are set forth below. Doug
La Malfa personally authorized the expenditure of $16,258.64 for maintenance on
the Mach 1 for the years 2006 and 2007. Only a half-wit (my apologies to
half-wits) would so act. Of course it wasn’t Doug La Malfa’s money, so why
would he care, right?
In the off-year of 2005, Doug La Malfa used 508 gallons of fuel
and drove 9,144 miles; however, when running for election the following year
(2006) he used 2,091 gallons and drove 37,638 miles. Put simply, Doug La Malfa
found it ethical to bill every Californian for the cost of his re-election bid.
In addition, I also believe that Doug La Malfa may well be a tax-scofflaw in
that according to IRS Publication 15-B personal use of the Mach 1 is considered
taxable income.
On his campaign web site at www.douglamalfa.com, Doug La Malfa
states in part, “Doug La Malfa understands that government’s first
responsibility is to protect its law-abiding citizens…” If Doug La Malfa truly
understands that his first responsibility is to protect law-abiding citizens
and if he in fact is a tax scofflaw, then maybe he should turn himself in to
the IRS and state tax authority, right?
In an effort to be excruciatingly fair to Doug La Malfa in the
event he is elected to the State Senate, I have this date (August 3, 2009) sent
him the following questionnaire:
Dave Palmer
The Watchdawg
Folsom, California
Email: noethics1@aol.com
This e-mail address is being
protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
URL: www.noethics.net
August 3, 2009
Mr. Doug La Malfa
Candidate: 4th District Senate
Dear Mr. La Malfa:
On behalf of the voters in Senate District 4 and other concerned
Californian in regards to your candidacy, I would appreciate it if you would
answer the following questions? To be fair, I will also be submitting this
questionnaire to your announced opponent.
Question No. 1: If elected will you agree to
refuse to accept a car of your choosing at public expense?
Question No. 2: If elected would you be willing
to propose legislation prohibiting the expenditure of public funds to provide
cars to state legislators?
Question No. 3: If elected will you agree to
forgo per diem payments for weekend days and holidays and/or Fridays when you
do not attend legislative sessions?
Question No. 4: If elected would you be willing
to introduce legislation mandating that all receipts for fuel purchases by
state legislators be made available to the public?
Question No. 5: Do you believe that the public
has an absolute right to review any and all travel expense records regarding
state legislators, which would include receipts for airline tickets, meals and
lodging?
Question No. 6: If elected would you support
legislation requiring that copies of all travel receipts for all legislators be
posted on a legislative web site for viewing by the public?
Thanks for your time and attention to this matter and I look
forward to your prompt reply. I would prefer that you respond via electronic
mail at noethics1@aol.com
This e-mail address is being
protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Respectfully yours,
PS: I have just published an article titled: “Does California
Assemblyman Doug La Malfa deserve election to State Senate?” It can be found by
going to
http://tinyurl.com/kjvpa4. I would invite any comments you may have regarding the article
and in particular if you discover any alleged inaccuracies. As I suspect you
know, in this business (journalism) accuracy is of the utmost importance.
Friends of Colonel Pete Stiglich
Retired, USAF
P.O. Box 141
Cottonwood, CA
96022
Phone: (530) 347-9276
Fax:
(530) 347-9276
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DA TE: March
29, 2012
POC: Bill
Benage, Campaign Manager, (530) 275-0761, bill@colonelpete.com
SUBJECT: LaMalfa
Accident Claim Involving State-Issued Vehicle
In a recent Right
on Daily blog posting by Aaron Parks, assorted details of an alleged accident
involving then-Assemblyman Doug’s LaMalfa’s use of a state-issued Mustang Mach
1 were revealed. The blog entry can be
found at Doug LaMalfa –
Taxpayer-Funded Mustang Mach 1 + Auto Accidents?
According to the blog, the senator rear-ended a parked
vehicle one evening enroute home from a social event. The alleged accident apparently resulted in a
$16,000 claim being filed with the State of California.
Consequently, Friends of Colonel Pete Stiglich has
forwarded a written request to State Senator Doug LaMalfa (Candidate for
Congressional District 1) requesting official details of the alleged accident,
including answers to the following questions:
- Did
the accident as described in the Right on Daily blog, in fact, occur,
resulting in a claim of approximately $16,000 to the State of California?
- Did
any local or state law enforcement agency(ies) respond to the accident or
in any way become involved in this incident? If so, what was the nature of their
involvement?
- Was a
police report prepared? If so, are
copies of the report available to the public? If no police report was
prepared, why not?
- What
was the nature of the damage to the state vehicle? Was it totaled or in repairable condition? If repaired, what is the name and
address of the shop doing the repairs?
- What
was the nature of the damage to the struck vehicle? Was it totaled or in repairable
condition? If repaired, what is the
name and address of the shop doing the repairs?
- Were
there any injuries? If so, what was
the nature of the injuries and were any medical claims filed by any
involved party, to include claims payable by the State of California?
- Who
was the owner of the struck vehicle and what are the details of any settlement
with that party as a result of the accident?
- Was
alcohol involved in this accident?
Was a DUI test administered?
If not, why not?
- Was
there any attempt or effort to conceal this event from the general
public? Were any public officials,
including office staff members, involved in this incident in any way,
officially or otherwise?
- If
any state money was used to settle the expenses of this alleged accident,
please describe in detail exactly how that money was dispensed, to whom,
for what purpose and when.
Information received from State
Senator Doug LaMalfa will immediately be made available to the media.
Right on Daily Blog by Aaron Parks
 In fairness to Doug – he is not the only reason why the State Legislature is at a 15% approval rating. It is a team effort.
However, Doug LaMalfa is campaigning as a “staunch fiscal conservative” – so now the issue becomes one of legislative integrity.
We’ve detailed how Doug LaMalfa is a gigantic welfare recipient. We’ve detailed how he has publicly advocated for more welfare and used his office to benefit himself.
One of the bizarre quirks of being a legislator is the self-insured Auto program that the legislature had until recently.
A story popped out in the Bee about the program and it is not pretty.
Doug LaMalfa used a Mustang Mach 1 as his state car. Not just any Mustang, a Mach 1.
A racoon was no match for Doug Lamalfa’s mustang – when interviewed about the Mustang, Doug doffed his cowboy hat and said “Aw shucks, I felt horrible the poor critter…”
Poor taxpayers. $1317 in damage + the $200k in salary and benefits LaMalfa draws as an officeholder.
Even more peculiar is the accident he had later on that cost the taxpayers $16,000.
I have been told by sources that LaMalfa rear-ended a parked 18-wheeler in said Mustang Mach 1 in the evening after an event. Suffice to say – a $16,000 auto repair is major… did the Mach 1 get totalled or fixed? Why wasn’t there a police report as an accident causing $16,000 in damage is major…
Did Doug LaMalfa or any other legislators get DMV points like the rest of us for their accidents?
File this as another reason why the State Legislature has about the same approval rating as a convicted sex offender… and to think the Republican Party establishment wants to protect this type of status quo!?
Right on Daily Blog, by Aaron Park
Visit Doug LaMalfa’s website – look at the Issues and Solutions Webpage.
There’s nothing there! – It says coming soon.
I think the rice lobby will be disappointed if they found that out…
In contrast – look at Sam Aanestad’s Website.
There are issues there!
Look at Colonel Pete’s Website… There are issues there!
It is stuff like this that makes it difficult to buy rice. I feel like I am being double-taxed every time I do.
Congressional candidate, Colonel Pete Stiglich, United States Air Force, Retired, is a native
Californian, currently residing at his ranch in Cottonwood, California.
Colonel Pete’s a proud conservative republican and is proud to be running to be your
representative from the 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of
Representatives.
Colonel Pete believes it’s time to begin ‘Putting America First’, ahead of all personal, political and special interest agendas.
Colonel Pete put his country first for 26 years while serving in her Armed Forces. He will continue putting America first as your representative in Congress.
RightonDaily.com by Aaron Park
 We’ve detailed how LaMalfa has taken $4.7 Million in Subsidies.
How the heck did his family get around the $180,000 a year limit imposed by Welfare Reform? Split the ranch!
By dividing the family farm subsidy into 6 pieces, the LaMalfas used a loophole to increase the amount of tax dollars they could take. The limits on subsidy payments is $180,000 per individual per year. By having subsidies go to six different “farmers,” each member of the family is well below the limit.
Have a look at all the years of Team LaMalfa Rice Welfare here!
To recap:
1. Took $4.7 Million in Farm Welfare
2. Helped found an organization devoted to protecting farm welfare
3. Publicly Advocated for Farm Welfare many times
4. Authored Legislation to turn useless Rice Straw in to a $400,000 a year windfall
5. Split the Family Farm to Circumvent the $180,000 per year limit.
This is not the profile of a Conservative.
The correct question is to ask why LaMalfa has done little or nothing to change the system that forces farmers to need subsidies to survive. The next question is to ask what Doug LaMalfa really wants to go to congress for – it sure looks like it is to protect the Farm Welfare, what other conclusion could one draw?
Friends of Colonel Pete Stiglich
Retired, USAF
P.O. Box 141
Cottonwood, CA 96022
Phone: (530) 347-9276
Fax: 530) 347-9276
FOR MMEDIATE RELEASE
DA TE: March 3, 2012
POC: Bill Benage, Campaign Manager, (530) 275-0761, bill@colonelpete.com
SUBJECT: California GOP Steers Clear of North State Congressional Race
In a stunning development, the California GOP decided this
past weekend in Burbank not to endorse a candidate in the North State’s 1st
Congressional District (CD) race.
According to the GOP website at www.cagop.org,
“Republican Leaders met in Burbank to consider races from all over the state as
part of a two-stage process. The first
stage was at the local County Republican Party level which considered the races
prior to the State Party. The State Party then considered the local Party
endorsements and voted.”
State Party Chairman, Tom Del Beccaro, declared,
“As the Party prepares
to be a vigorous contender in California’s first top two primary, we seek to
promote the most competitive candidates in the field this Primary season.”
Declared Republican candidates for the 1st CD seat
to be vacated by retiring Congressman Wally Herger include Gregory Cheadle,
Colonel Pete Stiglich, Sam Aanestad, Michael Dacquisto and Doug LaMalfa.
The 1st Congressional District encompasses a
total of eleven North State counties (full or in part), to include Shasta,
Siskiyou, Tehama, Lassen, Plumas, Placer, Nevada, Glenn, Butte, Modoc and
Sierra.
Of these eleven counties, only the Shasta and Siskiyou
County Republican Central Committees officially endorsed a congressional
candidate, State Senator Doug LaMalfa.
The other nine counties, according to sources, chose either not to
endorse or had their endorsement rescinded by State Party officials due to
irregularities in the endorsement process.
Colonel Pete offered the following thoughts regarding the
California GOP’s decision not to endorse,
“The GOP made the
right decision to stay out of the 1st Congressional District
race. Given the inability of county
Republican Central Committees to rally support behind any one candidate, it’s
best the decision be left up to individual voters who will be carefully vetting
all the candidates over the next several months.”
The following detailed listing of CRP endorsements can be
found at their website www.cagop.org .
California Republican Party
Official Endorsement Results
United States Senate Endorsement
Elizabeth Emken
Congressional Endorsements
District Candidate
CD 2 Dan
Roberts
CD 4 Tom
McClintock*
CD 5 Randy
Loftin
CD 7 Dan
Lungren*
CD 9 Ricky
Gill
CD 10 Jeff
Denham*
CD 17 Evelyn
Li
CD 18 David
Chapman
CD 19 Robert
Murray
CD 21 David
Valadao
CD 22 Devin
Nunes*
CD 23 Kevin
McCarthy*
CD 25 Buck
McKeon*
CD 26 Tony
Strickland
CD 27 Jack
Orswell
CD 31 Gary
Miller*
CD 36 Mary
Bono Mack*
CD 39 Ed
Royce*
CD 41 John Tavaglione
CD 42 Ken
Calvert*
CD 45 John
Campbell*
CD 46 Jerry
Hayden
CD 47 Gary
DeLong
CD 48 Dana
Rohrabacher*
CD 49 Darrell
Issa*
CD 50 Duncan
Hunter*
CD 51 Xanthi
Gionis
CD 52 Brian
Bilbray*
State
Senate Endorsements
District
Candidate
SD 1 Ted
Gaines*
SD 7 Mark
Meuser
SD 11 Harmeet
Dhillon
SD 17 Larry
Beaman
SD 19 Mike
Stoker
SD 21 Steve
Knight
SD 23 Bill
Emmerson*
SD 25 Gilbert
Gonzales
SD 27 Todd
Zink
SD 29 Bob
Huff*
SD 31 Jeff
Miller
SD 35
Charlotte Svolos
SD 37 Mimi
Walters*
SD 39 George
Plescia
State
Assembly Endorsements
District
Candidate
AD 3 Dan
Logue*
AD 4 John Munn
AD 6 Beth
Gaines*
AD 8 Peter
Tateishi
AD 10 Peter
Mancus
AD 11 Mike
Hudson
AD 12 Kristen
Olsen*
AD 16 Al
Phillips
AD 21 Jack
Mobley
AD 25 ArLyne
Diamond
AD 26 Connie
Conway*
AD 30 Robert
Bernosky
AD 31 Geof
Lickey
AD 32 Jon
McQuiston
AD 33 Tim
Donnelly*
AD 34 Shannon
Grove*
AD 35 Katcho
Achadjian*
AD 40 Mike
Morrell*
AD 41 Donna
Lowe
AD 42 Brian
Nestande*
AD 44 Jeff
Gorell*
AD 50 Brad
Torgan
AD 55 Curt
Hagman*
AD 56 Corky
Reynaga Emett
AD 60 Eric
Linder
AD 61 William Batey
AD 65 Chris
Norby*
AD 68 Don
Wagner*
AD 71 Brian
Jones*
AD 73 Diane
Harkey*
AD 74 Allan
Mansoor*
AD 75 Marie
Waldron
AD 79 Mary
England
*Denotes Incumbent
Your Community: Col. Pete Stiglich -
YouTube
… com/2012/02/your-community- col- pete-
stiglich … com/2012/02/your-community- col- pete- stiglich.html
… Congress; Race; Stiglich; License: Standard YouTube License
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K1Md9vr2Zk – Cached
.Play
Video
David Benda: LaMalfa dances around subsidies
- By David Benda
- Record Searchlight
- Posted February 25, 2012 at 10:40 p.m.
Are north state Republican congressman Wally Herger and Doug LaMalfa, whom Herger has endorsed to succeed him, on the same page when it comes to government subsidies?
LaMalfa has been taking heat, including an editorial in this newspaper, for the roughly $4.7 million of federal subsidies his family’s rice farm in Richvale has received in the past 15 years. LaMalfa defends the money, saying it helps the family business survive.
Critics contend LaMalfa is a hypocrite to decry the big hand of government while taking advantage of a government handout.
The verbal dust-up reminds me of an interview I did with Herger last summer.
Herger was in town, talking to businesses during a tour set up by the Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce, when I brought up the subsidy topic.
I told Herger that some in his own party think cutting these handouts would be akin to raising taxes.
Herger begged to differ. He told me that whether it’s an oil subsidy or farm subsidy, the money these companies receive “distorts the economy.” Everything should be up for discussion on the subject of reining in federal spending.
Subsidies are a way of Washington picking winners, and “Washington doesn’t do a very good job of picking winners,” Herger said in the July 1 story I wrote.
Better yet, Herger said, take all the money spent on subsidies and use it toward lowering tax rates. The result will be more businesses and more jobs.
Friends of Colonel Pete Stiglich
P.O. Box 141
Cottonwood, CA 96022
Phone: (530) 347-9276
Fax:
(530) 347-9276
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: February
25, 2012
POC: Bill
Benage, Campaign Manager, (530) 275-0761, bill@colonelpete.com
SUBJECT: Siskiyou
County Republican Central Committee Endorsement Process Challenged
Friends of Colonel Pete Stiglich (Colonel Pete) has
formally challenged the Siskiyou County Republican Central Committee’s recent endorsement
of State Senator Doug LaMalfa for congress.
According to Colonel Pete, candidate for California’s 1st
Congressional District,
“California
Republican Party by-laws clearly state all candidates must be given the
opportunity to be heard prior to any formal endorsement by a central
committee. That didn’t happen in
Siskiyou County. Let’s get the
endorsement process fixed and cut out all the hanky panky. It’s not good for the Republican Party. And, ultimately, it’s not good for America.”
Citing clear violations of California Republican Party
(CRP) by-laws, a letter has been sent to the CRP’s Rules Committee requesting
an investigation into the alleged abuse of the CRP endorsement process and
appropriate remedies, to include immediate rescission of the improper
endorsement and instruction to all central committees to comply with CRP
by-laws.
Colonel Pete expressed his concern, saying,
“These smoke
filled back-room deals need to stop and stop now. It’s absolutely abhorrent to think such
deal-making still goes on today. While our
country struggles for her survival, Republican establishment folks are busy
playing games, apparently more interested in entitlement, power, and personal
enrichment than the interests of America.”
And finally, Colonel Pete issued the following warning to
the leadership of his own party,
“Failure by
the California Republican Party to take swift and decisive action in this
instance will lead to a further erosion of confidence in party leadership and
an ever decreasing number of registered Republican voters here and across the
nation.”
A copy of the formal complaint letter to the CRP follows:
California
Republican Party (CRP)
Rules
Committee
Sacramento
Headquarters
1215 K.
Street, Suite 1220
Sacramento,
CA 95814
February 25, 2012
CRP Rules Committee:
On Tuesday, February 21, 2012, the Chairman of the Siskiyou
County Republican Central Committee (Committee) advised Friends of Colonel Pete
Stiglich that the Committee had recently formally endorsed State Senator Doug
LaMalfa for Congress and had personally notified Mr. LaMalfa of the
endorsement.
In the opinion of Friends of Colonel Pete Stiglich, this
endorsement is invalid for failure to comply with established CRP by-laws.
Specifically, the Committee appears to be in direct
violation of CRP by-law Section 3.02.04 and, specifically, Paragraph (A) (2).
Section 3.02.04 states:
(A) Where there is more than one
Republican candidate for nomination or election in a special or top two
primary election, no Republican County Central Committee shall endorse,
support or oppose any candidate for nomination or election at a special or
top two primary election or in a recall or recall replacement election,
except in the following manner and circumstances:
(1) Notice of the proposed action is given at least
five days in advance of the Central Committee meeting to all persons
entitled to vote.
(2) A hearing is held and the candidates affected
are given an opportunity to appear.
(3) A candidate receives a two-thirds (2/3)
majority vote of the voting members present and voting.
(4) The action is concurred in by all other
Republican County Central Committees which have jurisdiction over the
affected election district, in compliance with the provisions of
subdivisions (1) through (3) of this subsection.
Further, it is likely the Committee is also in violation of
Paragraph (A) (1), Notice of the proposed action is given at least five days in
advance of the Central Committee meeting to all persons entitled to vote. In a written communication to the Friends of
Colonel Pete Stiglich, the Chairman of the Siskiyou County Republican Central
Committee advised the decision to conduct the endorsement vote was made during
the meeting at which the endorsement vote was taken.
In order
to maintain integrity of the CRP endorsement process and ensure fair and
balanced treatment of all candidates for elected partisan office, it is
absolutely essential established rules be followed to the letter. Failure by
the California Republican Party to take swift and decisive action in this instance
will lead to a further erosion of confidence in party leadership and an ever
decreasing number of registered Republican voters here and across the nation.
Therefore, the CRP Rules Committee should take immediate
action to investigate the impropriety of the Siskiyou County Republican Central
Committee endorsement of Mr. LaMalfa and demand its immediate rescission. Further, the Rules Committee should remind
all county Republican Central Committees of their obligation to fully comply
with all CRP by-laws.
Sincerely,
Peter V. Stiglich
Candidate, CA 1st Congressional District
 It looks like Doug LaMalfa is in trouble.
The Redding Record-Searchlight is the largest paper in the CD01 district and they LIT Doug LaMalfa on Fire over the Rice Welfare issue.
$300k last year alone! $300K!!!
I am sitting here finishing my dinner – L&L Hawiian BBQ which consists of Chicken, Polynesian BBQ Sauce and, you guessed it, taxpayer subsidized rice!
$4.7Million? Really? And all LaMalfa had to say for himself was – “You shouldn’t talk about a farmer with your mouth full…”
Doug LaMalfa – you shouldn’t talk about Welfare Reform or fiscal conservatism with your pockets full! (OF OUR MONEY!)
Quoting today’s Op-Ed:
But we will say this about LaMalfa. He’s one of those conservatives whose rhetoric has hit an increasingly bitter anti-government note of late. He recently touted his congressional candidacy on the Republican website FlashReport in part by saying, “I see it as my job to stand between the bureaucrat thugs and the people.” Are those the same “thugs” who send his family business six-figure subsidies each year?
Now, that will leave a mark.
But – it gets better, Doug LaMalfa has invested considerable time in supporting his Farm Welfare. He helped found an organization that is all about Farm Welfare:
LaMalfa served as a founding member of the California Rice Commission (Butte County). As a founding member, he helped start an organization that lobbies for rice subsidies, more friendly trucking regulation and cheaper power for rice growers.
The California Rice Commission had retained a Washington lobbying firm, Lesher and Russell, to make its case against such reductions for the 2007 federal farm bill that included rice subsidies.
Whoops.
Doug LaMalfa has some explaining to do. Big Time… but wait, there’s more… much more.
For example – the California Rice Commission applauded liberal Democrat Doris Matsui for protecting their welfare payments in the 2007 Farm bill.
Whoops.
We are now swimming in it. Quoting the Record-Searchlight again:
But a combination of pandering to the base about small government while paying the farm’s bills thanks to FDR’s legacy? Yeah, some folks might think that smells like fertilizer.
Oooooh. LaMalfa is a fraud.
Record Searchlight Editorial, Posted February 22, 2012 at midnight
It’s amazing how nuanced a staunch small-government conservative can get when he’s the one cashing a government check.
Doug LaMalfa, Republican state senator and would-be congressman, will spend the better part of 2012 talking about the need to slow runaway federal spending and our government’s nauseating deficits. And he’ll be right.
But bring up the awkward subject of his own family farm’s federal crop subsidies — which have averaged more than $300,000 annually over the past 15 years, a sum every small-business owner would envy — and suddenly there’s a reasonable explanation for the importance of multibillion-dollar government giveaways.
The subsidies, he argues, merely help farmers stay afloat in the face of high taxes, stifling regulations, bad trade policies and high fuel prices. Which might be true, but most businesses in America could make a similar case. If there’s a company immune to taxes, trade and the rising cost of gasoline, we’d like to buy a few shares.
In fact, federal crop subsidies long predate LaMalfa’s 21st-century gripes. They go all the way back to the New Deal, when a general collapse in prices during the Great Depression waylaid farmers en masse. That the subsidies are still in place 80 years later is a testament to how hard it is to get rid of a government program — an observation it wouldn’t be surprising to hear coming from the mouth of LaMalfa himself.
We don’t for a moment fault the man for participating in the programs that help support his family’s Butte County rice farm. Whatever you think of farm subsidies, LaMalfa didn’t invent them. He’s not in Congress yet. And simply running a business according to the rules you find in place is no sin.
But we will say this about LaMalfa. He’s one of those conservatives whose rhetoric has hit an increasingly bitter anti-government note of late. He recently touted his congressional candidacy on the Republican website FlashReport in part by saying, “I see it as my job to stand between the bureaucrat thugs and the people.” Are those the same “thugs” who send his family business six-figure subsidies each year?
LaMalfa over the years has displayed considerable common sense and leadership about wasteful spending, including his crusade against California’s high-speed rail line. Some straight talk about what the government should do, as well as what it shouldn’t, could make for a useful election-year debate as the north state chooses whom to send to Congress.
But a combination of pandering to the base about small government while paying the farm’s bills thanks to FDR’s legacy? Yeah, some folks might think that smells like fertilizer.
© 2012 Record Searchlight. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Well, it’s about 11:36pm on Tuesday evening and I just finished a wonderful day visiting folks up in Siskiyou County.
First stop was McCloud. Then on to Mt Shasta City, Weed and finally Yreka.
At each stop, I got the chance to visit with all the small business owners in the main downtown areas. A great opportunity to hear their concerns and introduce myself as a congressional candidate.
Sure enjoy one on one campaigning. I’ve gotten to know so many wonderful folks along the way and the chance to visit some really neat towns in the district.
I ended the day up in Yreka as guest speaker at the Yreka Tea Party meeting. Talk about a fired up group of dedicated patriots. The energy in the room was electric and these folks truly care about preserving their liberties and their way of life. It was a great pleasure and honor to meet with each and every one of these great Americans and I look forward to more opportunities in the future.
I’ll close by simply offering my thanks and appreciation to all those wonderful folks we met today for their warm and gracious hospitality.
God bless!
Pete
By Ryan Sabalow, Record Searchlight, February 18, 2012
Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight State Sen. Doug LaMalfa talks with supporters in front of the local Republican headquarters on Hilltop Drive in Redding in January after announcing he’s running for the seat being vacated by Rep. Wally Herger.
It didn’t take long after Doug LaMalfa announced he was running for Congress last month before a supporter of his Republican opponents went on the attack, zeroing in on just less than $4.7 million of federal subsidies paid to his family rice farm over the last 15 years.
Under the headline “Doug LaMalfa for Congress? Are you kidding me???” Sacramento-area conservative activist Aaron Park posted a logo on his blog showing Republican LaMalfa’s trademark cowboy hat emblazoned with two dollar signs.
The hat was perched atop a bag of rice.
“Nor-Cal Top-10 List of Farm-Aid Recipients,” the caption says.
In an interview, Park says he believes it’s important to point out LaMalfa’s family rice farm in Richvale has received millions of dollars of federal subsidies over the years, something he feels will be one of the biggest issues in the congressional race.
“It’s an issue about honesty and integrity,” Park said. “It’s about presenting yourself as one thing, when you’re not. He really isn’t a fiscal conservative. He’s a liberal conservative.”
LaMalfa bristled at the attack.
“This guy is a paid mudslinger,” LaMalfa said of Park, who is Shasta County Supervisor Les Baugh’s state Senate campaign manager. “They try it in every campaign. It’s becoming a pretty old story.”
He said subsidies help “breadbasket” crop growers like his family offset the costs of burdensome government regulations, taxes, trade policies and escalating fuel costs that threaten to put them out of business.
The subsidies, he said, keep struggling farmers of rice, corn and other crops “on life support.”
LaMalfa’s family farm received $4.69 million of federal subsidies between 1995 and 2010, according to the Environmental Working Group, an organization that tallies federal farm aid.
When asked about LaMalfa’s subsidies this week, all four of his opponents said they were aware of the federal payments, although some stopped short of saying they would use them to attack LaMalfa, who has the endorsement of retiring U.S. Rep. Wally Herger, R-Chico.
Republican Pete Stiglich, of Cottonwood, had no such problem.
Stiglich said it’s hypocritical for a fellow Republican to receive federal farm aid, especially because LaMalfa has billed himself as a leader in the fight against expensive government entitlement programs.
“When it meets his personal interest, it’s not a big entitlement,” Stiglich said.
Gregory Cheadle, a Happy Valley Republican, agreed.
“You can’t condemn welfare recipients on one end then get welfare on the other end,” Cheadle said. “ I mean 5 million bucks? Come on.”
Others were less aggressive about the issue.
The only Democrat to enter the race, Jim Reed of Fall River Mills, said he wasn’t planning to bring up the subsidies, but he will if LaMalfa prompts him to.
“I guess if we’re in the middle of a debate and he’s really going off on small government and reduced spending, it may come up,” Reed said.
“But I’m not planning on using it as weapon at this point.”
Spokesman Mark Standriff said Republican Sam Aanestad’s congressional campaign is for now going to showcase the former state senator’s record, which includes cutting government spending, promoting free markets and job growth.
He said Aanestad’s campaign had no immediate plans to make the subsidies an issue.
However, just minutes after the phone interview ended, Standriff emailed two scanned copies of articles the Chico Enterprise Record published in 2007 detailing Butte and Glenn counties’ farm subsidy recipients.
LaMalfa’s rice operation in Richvale, Dsl Farms, was the ninth-largest recipient in the northern Sacramento Valley, according to the article.
LaMalfa, a state senator who won his seat after trouncing Republican Rick Keene in 2010, said Keene’s campaign also tried to make the subsidies an issue in that election, and it didn’t work.
LaMalfa said he predicts the other candidates attacking will meet similar fates, because it amounts to attacking the livelihoods of farmers in the rural, agricultural-based 1st Congressional District.
“There’s a good line that comes to mind,” LaMalfa said.
“When you gripe about your farmer, don’t talk with your mouth full.”
End of Record Searchlight Article
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The Heritage Foundation, a conservative research organization, published an agriculture backgrounder #2043, entitled How Farm Subsidies Harm Taxpayers, Consumers, and Farmers, Too, by Brian Riedl and published on June 20, 2007.
This year’s expiration of federal agriculture policies gives Congress an
important opportunity to take a fresh look at the $25 billion spent annually on
farm subsidies. Current farm policies are so poorly designed that they actually
worsen the conditions they claim to solve. For example:
- Farm subsidies are intended to alleviate farmer poverty, but the majority of
subsidies go to commercial farms with average incomes of $200,000 and net
worths of nearly $2 million.
- Farm subsidies are intended to raise farmer incomes by remedying low crop
prices. Instead, they promote overproduction and therefore lower prices
further.
- Farm subsidies are intended to help struggling family farmers. Instead, they
harm them by excluding them from most subsidies, financing the
consolidation of family farms, and raising land values to levels that
prevent young people from entering farming.
- Farm subsidies are intended to be consumer-friendly and taxpayer-friendly.
Instead, they cost Americans billions each year in higher taxes and higher
food costs.
Lawmakers would be hard-pressed to enact a set of policies that are more
destructive to farmers, taxpayers, and consumers than the current farm policies.
For these and other reasons, organizations representing taxpayers, consumers,
environmentalists, international trade, Third World countries, and even farmers
themselves have united around the shared conclusion that the current farm
subsidy system is failing and in dire need of reform during this year’s
reauthorization.
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Doug LaMalfa – Split the Ranch to Avoid the $180,000 Limit
RightonDaily.com by Aaron Park
How the heck did his family get around the $180,000 a year limit imposed by Welfare Reform? Split the ranch!
By dividing the family farm subsidy into 6 pieces, the LaMalfas used a loophole to increase the amount of tax dollars they could take. The limits on subsidy payments is $180,000 per individual per year. By having subsidies go to six different “farmers,” each member of the family is well below the limit.
Have a look at all the years of Team LaMalfa Rice Welfare here!
To recap:
1. Took $4.7 Million in Farm Welfare
2. Helped found an organization devoted to protecting farm welfare
3. Publicly Advocated for Farm Welfare many times
4. Authored Legislation to turn useless Rice Straw in to a $400,000 a year windfall
5. Split the Family Farm to Circumvent the $180,000 per year limit.
This is not the profile of a Conservative.
The correct question is to ask why LaMalfa has done little or nothing to change the system that forces farmers to need subsidies to survive. The next question is to ask what Doug LaMalfa really wants to go to congress for – it sure looks like it is to protect the Farm Welfare, what other conclusion could one draw?
Aaron F Park