Qualifications for Senator: 30 Yrs Old, US Citizen for 9 Yrs, State Residency (Understanding of Tax Code Not Required)

Colorado senator Ken Salazar, who bested Coors beer Pete Coors for his Senate seat in 2004, has been mocked for his ignorance of the US Tax Code.

Salazar, a fifth-generation Colorado rancher, touted himself as a man of the people, claiming that he understood the struggles of the working class and would create jobs and boost education funding. Apparently, however, he does not understand tax returns of the working class - or the wealthy, for that matter.

Senator Salazar recently supported a bill in Congress which continues subsidies to farmers with adjusted gross incomes of $750,000 or less. The bill passed.

The bill is estimated to cost taxpayers $289 billion over five years. Commodity-based subsidies for rice, cotton, corn, soybeans, wheat and other crops will cost about $43 billion. The remainder of the package funds crop insurance, conservation programs and “domestic food aid.”

Senator Salazar’s colleague, Senator Allard, said about the bill, “I’m disappointed that it does so little to reform government subsidies, particularly to wealthy individuals.” He was, of course, pointing to those who have adjusted gross incomes as high as $750,000 per farmer or $1.5 million for married farmers. He nonetheless voted in favor of the bill.

However, The Denver Post quoted Senator Salazar as saying, “That number doesn’t take into account deductions for the cost of running a farm.” He continued, “A farmer with an adjusted gross income of $750,000 might be losing his shirt” after paying for fuel, a new tractor and other expenses.”

Hmm. Sounds compelling, huh? Only Senator Salazar is wrong. Adjusted gross income is computed after deductions for farming expenses. Just take a peek at the front page of your form 1040.

So, yeah, under the new bill, you can be a millionaire and receive a subsidy. In some circumstances, there is no requirement to plant the land at all in order to receive a subsidy.

It’s amazing that politicians such as Senator Salazar are willing to play fast and loose with our tax dollars without even knowing the facts. And somewhere, a rich farmer is thanking him for it.

(My quick disclaimer: I was raised in rural North Carolina. I have friends and relatives who farmed. I am not anti-farmer, nor am I anti-aid. I am anti-waste. And I am especially anti-”not knowing the rules when you make policy.”)