Pigford Settlement: Billy Long Argues Like a Liberal

In case you haven't heard, Congressman Billy Long voted to give away $1.25 billion of your tax dollars to fund a frivolous law suit against the USDA called Pigford. Pigford has been described by the Washington Examiner as "race hustlers are shaking down taxpayers for payoffs, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is falling for the scam.”

A couple weeks ago a constituent of Congressman Long's from Ozark named Greg Cable sent a letter to Congressman Long asking for an explanation of his vote to fund the Pigford settlement. Congressman Long replied:

Thank you for contacting me regarding Roll Call Vote number 444, which addressed the Pigford discrimination case at the United States Department of Agriculture; I appreciate hearing from you.

As you know, the amendment offered by Congressman Steve King (R-IA) would have prohibited funding for payments relating to the final settlement of claims from the Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation, also known as the Pigford case. I voted against this amendment, along with several other Republicans, because stopping payments could increase the risk for additional litigation. I firmly believe I must take every step I can to curb costly litigation, which hurts businesses and job creation in this country. I also believe I must take every step to slow out-of-control government spending at every turn.

This response has generated a headache for Congressman Long, as he has become the poster child of RINOs who voted to fund Pigford. RINO appears to be the key term here in describing Long. When you think about it, his argument screams liberalism.

Let me explain. When liberals fight for gun control what is the main mechanism they use to support their cause?

Give up?

It's prevention. They always argue using preventive medicine. In the case of gun control, liberals argue just like Long did. Take away the guns, and you are going to prevent crime. Long's argument parallels this liberal argument and is without the common sense that Long promised he would take to Washington.

All he has really done is open the doors for future frivolous lawsuits against the US government, which are really law suits against the taxpayers of America. The best way to ensure frivolous law suits don't occur is to not reward them in the first place. It's parallel would be the studies that have shown where conceal carry laws are passed, crimes go down.

That's all Congressman Long and 77 other Republicans did when they voted for Pigford. They opened the door for more frivolous lawsuits by rewarding bad behavior.