Tom Coburn, Oklahoma’s junior U.S. senator, is gaining a reputation as something of a maverick in the halls of Congress.

Coburn has taken aim at wasteful government spending, targeting earmarks better known as “pork.”

Coburn recently turned his attention to a measure he deemed “a bailout for politicians,” a bill containing $4.5 billion in supplemental agricultural disaster aid.

He tried, unsuccessfully, to block the bill’s passage in the Senate. The measure was authored by Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D. On the surface, the bill’s premise seems sound — offering aid for farmers whose crops were affected by various disasters.

But Coburn called the measure “wasteful and deceptive,” charging “The hundreds of earmarks hidden throughout this bill will siphon millions of dollars from critical programs designed to protect our food supply, enhance agricultural production and directly assist farmers.”

One of Coburn’s primary objections to the bill was the fact it provided relief for farmers who don’t purchase crop insurance.

“You can’t tell people they get bailed out and not have to buy crop insurance,” said Coburn.

We agree.

What incentive do producers have to purchase crop insurance if they know the government will bail them out if their crop fails, whether or not they have insurance?

Coburn said the aid should have gone to producers who weren’t able to plant a crop, not for crop losses that could have been covered by federally subsidized insurance.

The $3.3 billion House relief bill written by 3rd District Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., is a better alternative. It would provide assistance for all types of disasters nationwide, including drought and wildfires.

Lucas’ measure more directly impacts Oklahoma producers because it includes this year’s disasters, while Conrad’s bill doesn’t.
Federal crop insurance, available to producers at subsidized rates, will pay those whose crops are ruined by various natural disasters.

This is a good system, and one that should be preserved, not undermined by ill-advised and overblown disaster aid bills like that authored by Sen. Conrad.