Protectionists Not Satisfied With Food Price Increases

A key House Democrat is seemingly unaware of the recent increases in the cost of food for American households. And in keeping with the dominant trend in Washington toward agricultural welfare, he is trying to make sure sugar prices paid by consumers go ever higher.

More...

Daniel Griswold at the Cato@Liberty blog writes:

Not content with a protected near monopoly of the domestic market, American sugar producers are demanding that Congress make their pot of subsidies and protection even sweeter.

Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Colin Peterson (D-Minn.), is pushing language in the latest proposed farm bill that would raise domestic price supports for sugar and mandate that sugar imports be used for ethanol production.

These price supports will create higher prices for consumers, including companies who use sugar in the products, bakeries, and restaurants. In any case, the end consumer will foot the final bill (plus tax).