Dear Representative:
Taxpayers for Common Sense Action (TCS Action) urges you to support Rep. Lloyd Doggett’s (D-TX) amendment to strike a provision promoting the sale of tobacco and tobacco products abroad through the Market Access Program (MAP) from H.R. 2419, the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007. In essences, this provision would require taxpayers to pay for promotion of the Marlboro Man in China.
The tobacco provision was added to H.R. 2419, also known as the farm bill, during committee consideration. The farm bill is expected to be voted on in the House of Representatives as early as Thursday, July 26th.
The Market Access Program has a long history of waste through the subsidization of well-established industries. The U.S. Government Accountability Office has released at least six reports criticizing MAP. In 2004 GAO highlighted the program for elimination or reduction citing the cut as a way for improving the use of taxpayer funds. Since its inception in 1985, the program has wasted more than $2 billion. Past recipients include trade associations such as Sunkist Growers, Inc. and the Wine Institute – hardly industries needing a helping hand marketing their wares overseas. Now, thanks to an amendment to H.R. 2419 that was added by the Agriculture Committee, Joe Camel would get a piece of this wasteful program.
Ryan Alexander
President
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