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Getbig Main Boards => Politics and Political Issues Board => Topic started by: Soul Crusher on October 14, 2010, 10:44:06 AM
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Obama Wants $1.25B to Compensate up to 66,000 African American Farmers for USDA Discrimination...
csnews.com ^ | 10-14-10 | Nicholas Ballasy
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Original title: Obama Wants $1.25 B to Compensate up to 66,000 African American Farmers for USDA Discrimination in 1981-96; Census Says African American Farmers Peaked at 33,000 in Those Years
President Barack Obama is requesting $1.15 billion from Congress—to add to a $100-million earmark he pushed through Congress in 2008 when he was a senator—to create a $1.25 billion federal fund to settle discrimination claims by what the Justice Department says is 66,000 African Americans who “farmed or attempted to farm” and were allegedly the victims of discrimination committed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) during the period from Jan. 1, 1981 to Dec. 31, 1996.
During that 16-year period, however, the number of African American farm operators in the United States peaked at 33,000 in 1982, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. By 1992, says the Census Bureau, the number of African American farmers had fallen as low as 19,000. (There were 2.24 million total farmers in the United States in 1982 and 1.93 million in 1992.)
A "farm operator," according to the Census, is "a person who operates a farm, either doing the work or making day-to-day decisions." Farm operators include both individuals who own farms and who rent them.
A Department of Justice spokeswoman told CNSNews.com that the $1.15 billion the administration is requesting from Congress to settle what is called the Pigford II case is based on complaints of discrimination from 66,000 individual African American farmers who allege the Department of Agriculture wrongfully denied them federal farm loans or benefits between the beginning of 1981 and the end of 1996.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...
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So 50% of the claims are bogus and they still want to pay it out?
Also - according to Obama and his communist trash admn, we are borrowing from the Chinese to pay for this?
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Lee Stranahan.Filmmaker, Writer, Photographer
Posted: January 24, 2011 01:50 PM
Blue Dog Congressman Sanford Bishop Knew About Pigford Fraud
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lee-stranahan/blue-dog-congressman-sanf_b_812884.html
While I was conducting a video interview with a Georgia farmer named Eddie Slaughter a couple of weeks ago, he made a surprising and stunning allegation: that he had told his congressman about fraud in the multibillion dollar Pigford v. Glickman settlement and that the congressman responded by telling him that an investigation into Pigford would "shut it down." Mr. Slaughter's congressman -- a man you may not have heard much about despite his nearly two decades as a Blue Dog Democrat and Congressional Black Caucus member -- is Sanford Bishop.
I followed up with Mr. Slaughter and I asked him if others were in the meeting with Congressman Bishop. I've since interviewed two of those farmers -- one on the phone and one, farmer Willie Head, on video. Both confirmed Mr. Slaughter's story.
Here's a a segment of my interview with Mr. Slaughter where he says:
We went to him [Sanford Bishop] several times about this fraud. [We asked] 'why don't you have them tell you how many of these people that are getting this money have an actual farm ID number and are actual farmers?' [Bishop responded] 'no, no, no -- man, they'll shut this thing down.'
And here is Willie Head:
I posted these videos to my YouTube account and then wrote pieces for Andrew Breitbart's BigGovernment.com site. The controversial Mr. Breitbart is funding the documentary I'm working on but has given me complete journalistic freedom and has had no direct involvement in shooting any of the more than 12 hours of video interviews I've done so far. As a liberal, I disagree with Breitbart on most issues, but I also found him to be a very different person than he's been portrayed as in the media, and working with him has been a great experience, just like my previous work for MoveOn.org and Brave New Films. I also don't believe he's a racist. If he were, I wouldn't be working with him.
Within a couple of days, Congressman Bishop had responded to three different newspapers. His story was different each time.
•Rep. Bishop told the Albany Herald that he was aware of the fraud but it wasn't his job to police it. This admission is significant because USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack has claimed that there was almost no fraud in Pigford.
•When speaking to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Rep. Bishop was suddenly stunned and perplexed and suggested that the farmers had been drinking. The AJC also played up the Breitbart angle and made no mention of me or my background as the sole reporter/videographer.
•Most recently, Rep. Bishop told the Columbus Ledger-Inquirer that he remembered the meeting, repeated that he wasn't responsible for monitoring fraud, suggested that there were anti-fraud provisions in the second Pigford bill and again insulted the farmers calling them disgruntled and irresponsible.
Despite the attempts at McCarthyesque guilt-by-association because Andrew Breitbart is funding this important story, please note that all three newspapers independently confirmed that the video accurately reflected what these farmers had told me. More damning for Congressman Bishop, of course, is that he confirmed to two of the newspapers that he was indeed aware of fraud in the Pigford case. This is from the Albany Herald piece:
"Yes, I am aware that there is fraud in the program, that's why anti-fraud provisions were written into the settlement," Bishop said Thursday morning. "My job was to help secure funding for constituents who had been discriminated against by the USDA. It's not my job to monitor fraud in the program. I can't assume responsibility for fraud. You can't lay that at my feet.
Nor is this the first time that Sanford Bishop has been accused (and admitted to) being ethically challenged.
•In September, 2010 he admitted to diverting Congressional Black Caucus Foundation scholarship money to his friends and family and gave the excuse that there weren't nepotism rules in place for the scholarships at the time.
•There was also a case about a year ago where money that came from Bishop was paid to Bishop's stepdaughter and husband for work they allegedly didn't do -- but was directly deposited into Bishop's wife's bank account.
•Also, significantly related to the Pigford case is another story where an aide of Mr. Bishop's left an answering machine message with a farmer who he'd heard call Mr. Bishop an angry racial slur and threatened his Farm Service Administration loan. I believe this strange response shows that Bishop's office plays politics and favoritism with the farm loan process.
It's really rather amazing that Rep. Bishop has been able to skate under the radar while fellow CBC members like Charlie Rangel have been censured. Bishop's penchant for huge earmarks (more than $180,000,000 in the last three years) and gigantic, questionable agriculture subsidies has no doubt earned him some loyalty in his district even though he nearly lost his seat in the 2010 election.
Bishop's defense of his knowledge of Pigford fraud has been that there were provisions built into the recently signed Pigford 2 legislation designed to cut down on fraud. These so called protections are useless, however, when there are people who have been teaching others exactly how to commit nearly detection proof perjury and fill out the claim forms in order to get paid a $50,000 Pigford check.
And of course, this is fraud that USDA Secretary Vilsack has said is only a handful of cases, even after the USDA was shown my interview with a Pigford attorney weeks ago acknowledging hundreds of cases he was personally aware of. Vilsack seems to have the same concern that Rep. Bishop does that an investigation into Pigford would shut it down.
Bishop's bashing of his constituents is also troubling. He clearly enjoys insulting those who would speak truth to power. I've left several messages with Rep. Bishop's press secretary but haven't gotten a call back since the story broke. Because of Sanford Bishop's accusations about the farmers, I recorded a follow-up interview with Willie Head on Jan. 23 discussing Sanford Bishop, the press response, Andrew Breitbart and other issues.
Click here for the entire, unedited interview with Willie Head -- it's about 11 minutes long.
This Blogger's Books from
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USDA offers settlement to women, Hispanic farmers
Network NewsX Profile
By MARY CLARE JALONICK
The Associated Press
Friday, February 25, 2011; 3:15 PM
WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is offering more than $1.3 billion to settle complaints from female and Hispanic farmers who say they faced discrimination from the Agriculture Department.
The Agriculture and Justice departments announced Friday that farmers who could prove discrimination could receive up to $50,000. The proposal comes after the government settled with American Indians over similar discrimination issues last fall and Congress provided money for the second round of a black farmers settlement.
The government first announced its intent to settle the complaints in May. The more detailed offer announced Friday does not cap the amount of money that can be awarded and waives some application fees.
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More slush funds
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More like a thief and pick pocket
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we don't have the money for things like this. FAIL.
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we don't have the money for things like this. FAIL.
No biggie - we will print it out of thin air and then pat ourselves on the back for the great thing we did, all while the currency is devalued, commodities and food spike, and the dollar tanks.
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No biggie - we will print it out of thin air and then pat ourselves on the back for the great thing we did, all while the currency is devalued, commodities and food spike, and the dollar tanks.
I'd love to see Chris Christie's first 2 weeks in office...
imagine the amount of shit he would slash. Politicans usually suck up to teachers - he gives them the bird and cuts spending when it needs to be done. Nobody in the US is entitled to ANYTHING.
Christie just handles it better than Walker and others. He's very dignified and goes on tv quite a bit to explain his position and message.
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I'd love to see Chris Christie's first 2 weeks in office...
imagine the amount of shit he would slash. Politicans usually suck up to teachers - he gives them the bird and cuts spending when it needs to be done. Nobody in the US is entitled to ANYTHING.
Christie just handles it better than Walker and others. He's very dignified and goes on tv quite a bit to explain his position and message.
Yup. Christie really is the man. I really wish he would run. Right man at the right time.
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Yup. Christie really is the man. I really wish he would run. Right man at the right time.
He will run. He will "let" himself be recruited. Pundits were on MSNBC today saying he didn't even need to run - he can just let others do it for him, step in and own it.
The repubs are actually running late in announcing. Last time, everyone started announcing already. Obama was Jan, I believe. We're looking at March and nobody wants to be the first haha!
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He will run. He will "let" himself be recruited. Pundits were on MSNBC today saying he didn't even need to run - he can just let others do it for him, step in and own it.
The repubs are actually running late in announcing. Last time, everyone started announcing already. Obama was Jan, I believe. We're looking at March and nobody wants to be the first haha!
Christie is the anti-Obama andwould obliterate him on every level.
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Hispanic, women farmers queue up for claims against USDA
Western Farm Press ^ | Feb. 28, 2011
As part of continued efforts to close the chapter on allegations that discrimination occurred at USDA in past decades, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Assistant Attorney General Tony West announced the establishment of a process to resolve the claims of Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who assert that they were discriminated against when seeking USDA farm loans.
"The Obama administration has made it a priority to resolve all claims of past discrimination at USDA, and we are committed to closing this sad chapter in USDA's history," said Vilsack. "Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who allege past discrimination can now come forward to participate in a claims process in which they have the opportunity to receive compensation."
"Under the resolution announced today, USDA and Hispanic and women farmers will be able to move forward and focus on the future," said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. "The administrative process being established will give Hispanic and women farmers who believe they suffered discrimination the chance to have their claims heard."
The claims process offers a streamlined alternative to litigation and provides at least $1.33 billion in compensation, plus up to $160 million in farm debt relief, to eligible Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers. This announcement follows the Obama administration's settlement of longstanding litigation brought by African American farmers and Native American farmers.
$50,000 per individual
The program provides up to $50,000 for each Hispanic or woman farmer who can show that USDA denied them a loan or loan servicing for discriminatory reasons for certain time periods between 1981 and 2000. Hispanic or female farmers who provide additional proof and meet other requirements can receive a $50,000 reward. Successful claimants are also eligible for funds to pay the taxes on their awards and for forgiveness of certain existing USDA loans. There are no filing fees or other costs to claimants to participate in the program. Participation is voluntary, and individuals who opt not to participate are not precluded by the program from filing a complaint in court.
In conjunction with this announcement, USDA is launching an outreach effort to potential claimants that will include a call center for farmers and ranchers, a website, public service announcements, and in-person meetings around the country. Individuals interested in participating in the claims process may register to receive a claims package, or may obtain more information, by visiting www.farmerclaims.gov. Beginning Feb. 25, 2011, individuals can register to receive a claims package by calling the Farmer and Rancher Call Center at 1-888-508-4429. USDA cannot provide legal advice to potential claimants. Persons seeking legal advice may contact a lawyer or other legal services provider.
Under Secretary Vilsack's leadership, USDA is addressing civil rights complaints that go back decades, and today's announcement is another major step towards achieving that goal. USDA is committed to resolving allegations of past discrimination and ushering in "a new era of civil rights" for the Department. In February 2010, the Secretary announced the Pigford II settlement with African American farmers, and in October 2010, he announced the Keepseagle settlement with Native American farmers. Meanwhile, Secretary Vilsack continues to advocate for resolution of all remaining claims of past discrimination against USDA.
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How does one proove they didn't get a loan due to illegal discrimination?
Seems to me there is going to be a lot of race card playing, in hopes that the government will be too chicken-shit to verify and make a payment to avoid the issue.
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Its more theft, stealing, re-distribution of wealth, Alinsky, Marx, Cloward & Piven, Lenin, Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao, Mussolini, and traitorous undermining of the nation by the communist muslim sleeper cell Obama, piss, shit, puke, vomit, spit, be upon him.
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Obama On $1.2 Billion Black Farmers Settlement: 'Brings Us Closer To The Ideals Of Freedom and Equality'
Trymaine Lee
First Posted: 10/28/11 05:59 PM ET
President Barack Obama called a judge's approval of a $1.2 billion government settlement with black farmers who for decades had been denied loans and assistance from the Agriculture Department, a step forward in "addressing an unfortunate chapter in USDA's civil rights history."
This is the second round of settlements in a case filed in 1997, which alleged that thousands of black farmers had been discriminated against between 1983 and 1997. This round is directed at farmers who were not awarded payment because of missed filing deadlines. The judge said payments would likely be dispersed in a year or so, after neutral parties reviewed the individual claims.
"This agreement will provide overdue relief and justice to African American farmers, and bring us closer to the ideals of freedom and equality that this country was founded on," Obama said in a statement.
snip//
The federal government has acknowledged historic racial bias and in 1999 settled a class-action lawsuit that alleged discrimination in government loans.
more...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/28/obama-on-12-bi...
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Obama On $1.2 Billion Black Farmers Settlement: 'Brings Us Closer To The Ideals Of Freedom and Equality'
Trymaine Lee
First Posted: 10/28/11 05:59 PM ET
President Barack Obama called a judge's approval of a $1.2 billion government settlement with black farmers who for decades had been denied loans and assistance from the Agriculture Department, a step forward in "addressing an unfortunate chapter in USDA's civil rights history."
This is the second round of settlements in a case filed in 1997, which alleged that thousands of black farmers had been discriminated against between 1983 and 1997. This round is directed at farmers who were not awarded payment because of missed filing deadlines. The judge said payments would likely be dispersed in a year or so, after neutral parties reviewed the individual claims.
"This agreement will provide overdue relief and justice to African American farmers, and bring us closer to the ideals of freedom and equality that this country was founded on," Obama said in a statement.
snip//
The federal government has acknowledged historic racial bias and in 1999 settled a class-action lawsuit that alleged discrimination in government loans.
more...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/28/obama-on-12-bi...
This compensation has been going on for over 10 years...even in the Clinton Administration. While there's going to be a few people who will take advantage of of it the fact is that a lot of black farmers including my grandparents were discriminated against and never got the loans or assistance as they would have gotten if they were white. Shame that they never lived to see things being rectified.
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This compensation has been going on for over 10 years...even in the Clinton Administration. While there's going to be a few people who will take advantage of of it the fact is that a lot of black farmers including my grandparents were discriminated against and never got the loans or assistance as they would have gotten if they were white. Shame that they never lived to see things being rectified.
Boo fucking hoo.
Get a life. And *uck your grandparents too.
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Boo fucking hoo.
Get a life. And *uck your grandparents too.
Wow, you really are a dirtbag aren't you??/
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Wow, you really are a dirtbag aren't you??/
Cry me a river bitch.
Nobody cares about you or your grandpappy and his farm.
Hope this helps.
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However if u get some money let me know because as an Italian-American..as I would then want to be refered to..I can find numerous causes to sue somebody. Also as my mother is from Ireland I would like to sue the Brits for genocide. The fact that 4 of my cousins have served in the British Armed Forces not withstanding. I want my free chicken...or cash..or whatver obamy is handing out. Fuck u, pay me.
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However if u get some money let me know because as an Italian-American..as I would then want to be refered to..I can find numerous causes to sue somebody. Also as my mother is from Ireland I would like to sue the Brits for genocide. The fact that 4 of my cousins have served in the British Armed Forces not withstanding. I want my free chicken...or cash..or whatver obamy is handing out. Fuck u, pay me.
I always knew you were a paisan for some reason!
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Proudly sicilian..which I've been told explains alot. Half Irish/half Italian...and always angry.
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Proudly sicilian..which I've been told explains alot. Half Irish/half Italian...and always angry.
I drink too much but have no Mick in me.
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that;s all ?
barely one week's war bill..
it's a bargain!
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However if u get some money let me know because as an Italian-American..as I would then want to be refered to..I can find numerous causes to sue somebody. Also as my mother is from Ireland I would like to sue the Brits for genocide. The fact that 4 of my cousins have served in the British Armed Forces not withstanding. I want my free chicken...or cash..or whatver obamy is handing out. Fuck u, pay me.
Dude..Italian-Americans sue due to discrimination all the time....due to slurs directed at them and stuff like that
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Dude..Italian-Americans sue due to discrimination all the time....due to slurs directed at them and stuff like that
Evidence?
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Cry me a river bitch.
Nobody cares about you or your grandpappy and his farm.
Hope this helps.
LOL. Yup.
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NYT: Breitbart was right about Pigford
posted at 9:21 am on April 26, 2013 by Ed Morrissey
It’s rare to get this kind of vindication, so let’s enjoy it in memory of Andrew Breitbart for as long as possible. For more than two years, Andrew and Lee Stranahan have investigated the Pigford settlement and the fraudulent claims that not only have cost taxpayers billions, but have left the original black farmers who sued the USDA over discrimination. Today the New York Times reports what Andrew and Lee have been saying all along — that the Pigford settlement was a political hack job by Tom Vilsack’s Department of Agriculture, and that it’s a magnet for fraud (via Twitchy):
The compensation effort sprang from a desire to redress what the government and a federal judge agreed was a painful legacy of bias against African-Americans by the Agriculture Department. But an examination by The New York Times shows that it became a runaway train, driven by racial politics, pressure from influential members of Congress and law firms that stand to gain more than $130 million in fees. In the past five years, it has grown to encompass a second group of African-Americans as well as Hispanic, female and Native American farmers. In all, more than 90,000 people have filed claims. The total cost could top $4.4 billion.
From the start, the claims process prompted allegations of widespread fraud and criticism that its very design encouraged people to lie: because relatively few records remained to verify accusations, claimants were not required to present documentary evidence that they had been unfairly treated or had even tried to farm. Agriculture Department reviewers found reams of suspicious claims, from nursery-school-age children and pockets of urban dwellers, sometimes in the same handwriting with nearly identical accounts of discrimination.
Yet those concerns were played down as the compensation effort grew. Though the government has started requiring more evidence to support some claims, even now people who say they were unfairly denied loans can collect up to $50,000 with little documentation.
As a senator, Barack Obama supported expanding compensation for black farmers, and then as president he pressed for $1.15 billion to pay those new claims. Other groups quickly escalated their demands for similar treatment. In a letter to the White House in September 2009, Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, a leading Hispanic Democrat, threatened to mount a campaign “outside the Beltway” if Hispanic farmers were not compensated.
Career litigators, who had successfully defended the Agriculture Department all the way to the Supreme Court, were aghast:
The payouts pitted Mr. Vilsack and other political appointees against career lawyers and agency officials, who argued that the legal risks did not justify the costs.
Beyond that, they said it was legally questionable to sidestep Congress and compensate the Hispanic and female farmers out of a special Treasury Department account, known as the Judgment Fund. The fund is restricted to payments of court-approved judgments and settlements, as well as to out-of-court settlements in cases where the government faces imminent litigation that it could lose. Some officials argued that tapping the fund for the farmers set a bad precedent, since most had arguably never contemplated suing and might not have won if they had.
Be sure to read it all, but it’s difficult to argue with Byron York’s assessment of the story:
https://twitter.com/ByronYork/status/327724337232760832
Perhaps now that the New York Times has exposed this, a few lawmakers might get shamed into doing something about it. That would really put a smile on Andrew’s face.
Addendum: In early 2011, I interviewed Andrew about Pigford — or rather, asked him a question and then filmed his answer for 20 minutes. I also live-blogged a press conference Andrew and Lee conducted at CPAC that year, which included some of the original litigants who ended up getting run over by Ag in the settlement structure.