Protect federal sugarcane subsidies

Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal is butting heads not only with Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee for president, but also with Republican John McCain. The issue is sugarcane subsidies and whether they should continue. McCain is a longtime advocate of ending the subsidies. Obama recently questioned the benefits of sugar supports.

I would strongly encourage our congressional delegation to stop any attempt to undermine our sugarcane industry," Jindal said. "Hundreds of thousands of acres of sugar cane here in Louisiana support local banks, retail outlets and communities. Sugarcane farmers are an important part of our economy, our heritage and our future."

We strongly support the governor's position. Florida and Louisiana are the top cane-producing states in the U.S. There are nearly 700 sugarcane farms in Louisiana. The state's sugarcane industry employs 27,000 workers.

Scott Schneider, a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu's re-election campaign, was quick to denounce McCain's comments. Landrieu's Republican rival in the upcoming Senate race, state Treasurer John Kennedy, also disagrees with McCain on ending sugar subsidies. A Kennedy spokesperson said the subsidies are particularly important after the recent hurricanes.

McCain's stand angers many others in Louisiana and drew a charge from Democrats that he "just doesn't understand the economic situation."

One day later, the picture changed drastically as it became clear Obama has shared McCain's view.

We disagree with both candidates. At a hearing two years ago, Jack Roney, director of Economics and Policy Analysis for the American Sugar Alliance, defended the status quo in testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee.

The policy is working well, Roney said, for American taxpayers and American sugar consumers, while giving American farmers a chance to survive.

Because of the current system, the sugar industry has survived major challenges in recent years.

Those challenges included a threat of large imports of sugar from Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement; an unprecedented string of natural disasters - drought in the West, excessive rains in the upper Midwest and a series of hurricanes that ravaged Louisiana and Florida.

In each case, the policy has shown its adaptability to challenging circumstances.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, the Third District Democrat who was formerly president of the American Sugar Cane League, says he thinks Obama, who represents a state with a lot of candy factories, might change his view on sugar subsidies if elected president.

Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter says he supports John McCain for president, but disagrees with his view on sugar.

Citizens of Louisiana and other sugar-producing states should send that message to both presidential candidates. We would like to see the issue removed from their political campaigns.

source:theadvertiser