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Facebook WASHINGTON  When the bill that would extend farm subsidies for five years goes to the Senate floor this week, eight senators will have special reason to pay close attention: They or their relatives collected about $3 million in federal payments from 1995 to 2005, according to government records compiled by a non-partisan environmental group. They join four House members in a small group of lawmakers connected to farming operations that received a total of $6.2 million in subsidies over that period. Many say their experience with the programs has given them valuable insight into the issue. SUBSIDIES: Payments made to Congress members and their families "Without these programs, there are some years that we would have been in very, very dire straights," said Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat elected last year who farms 1,800 acres. Along with his wife, he received about $232,000 from 1995-2005, according to Department of Agriculture records gathered by the Environmental Working Group. Congressional ethics rules allow members who get farm subsidies to vote on the bills that authorize them, on the grounds that the bills affect a general class of people. Some see a problem with that. "Just because it's not a conflict of interest under the rules doesn't mean it isn't a conflict to a regular person looking at it," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of the non-partisan Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. At the least, Sloan said, lawmakers should be required to publicly disclose when they vote to benefit themselves or their families as part of a small group. Members of Congress must report sources of income totaling more than $200, but most get payments through partnerships or other entities, so it can be difficult to learn which ones receive the subsidies. Recipients are searchable by name on www.ewg.org, but, for example, payments to Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., are listed under her maiden name, Lambert, at a Virginia address near Washington. Records show Lincoln and her family members collected $715,000 from 1995-2005, the most recent year complete data are available. She said she personally received less than $10,000 a year, and the subsidies ended in 2005 when her land was sold. The proposed $283 billion, five-year Senate farm bill would preserve a system that pays 84% of subsidies to the biggest 20% of the farms, according to the working group, which supports caps on farm payments. Some agribusiness companies receive millions from taxpayers each year, even with crop prices at record levels. One farmer-senator, Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa, plans to offer an amendment that would cap payments at $250,000 annually. Grassley collected about $225,000 for his corn and soybean farm from 1995-2005. His son took in about $654,000, records show. Neither ever got $250,000 in a year. President Bush wants to end subsidies for anyone making more than $200,000 in adjusted gross income — a formula that easily could capture members of Congress, who earn $165,000 per year in salary. Grassley says a payment cap is easier to get done. Tester expressed support for the Grassley amendment, as did Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., whose father and brother are listed as some of his state's biggest subsidy recipients. Lincoln has opposed similar payment caps, as have the four House members whose families have received subsidies. "It puts my guys out of business," Lincoln said Monday. Grassley, Brownback and Tester said they support a system of subsidies for small and medium-sized farmers to provide a safety net and protect the nation's food supply. Only one subsidy recipient in Congress wants to dramatically pare direct payments to farmers: Richard Lugar, R-Indiana, whose family farm received $126,555 from 1995-2005. Lugar backs a plan to cap federal farm payments at $30,000 a year. Rep. Marion Berry, D-Ark., says the system works well. He and his family's farming interests received almost $2.4 million in federal payments from 1995-2005, records show. His net worth in 2005 was $1.7 million to $6.6 million, according to his financial disclosure statement. "He has firsthand experience of how this really benefits farmers," said his spokeswoman, Angela Guyadeen. Subsidies to Congress members and their families Subsidies to members of Congress and their families from 1995 through 2005: Senators Total subsidies Notes Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa $878,854 The payments went to Grassley and his son, who has a separate farming operation in addition to a partnership with his father. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark. $715,000 The payments went to a family partnership the senator co-owned until 2005, and to Lincoln's mother and brothers. Lincoln said she personally was getting $10,000 a year. Sam Brownback, R-Kan. $643,000 The payments went to Brownback, his father and his brother. Brownback says he personally waives most subsidies because he thinks people with high non-farm income shouldn't get most types of federal assistance. Jon Tester, D-Mont. $232,311 The payments went to him and his wife. Max Baucus, D-Mont. $230,237 The payments went to a family ranch; the senator sold his interest in the ranch in 1995, though he still has reported receiving mineral royalty payments. Richard Lugar, R-Ind. $126,555 The payments went to a family partnership. Gordon Smith, R-Ore. $45,400 The payments went to the senator's frozen foods business, but are forwarded to growers who lease the land, a spokesman said. House members Marion Berry, D-Ark. $2,357,094 The payments went to corporations co-owned by him or relatives, and one company that pays his wife as a director. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D. $789,575 The payments went to her father, a former South Dakota state legislator. John Salazar, D-Colo. $161,085 Salazar no longer receives subsidies personally because the farm is now leased, a spokesman said. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill. $25,000 The payments went to Hastert and his wife. Grand total $6,203,341 Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture records compiled by the Environmental Working Group; lawmaker financial disclosures Share this story: Digg del.icio.us Newsvine Reddit Facebook Enlarge By Justin Sullivan, Getty Images Sen. Jon Tester of Montana works on his farm in this 2006 photo in Big Sandy, Mont. Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. 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