July 19, 2007 12:02PM 

# Word Abuse 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

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In Washington, no word is more overused and abused than “reform.” But [a *Washington Post* story](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/18/AR2007071802531.html?hpid=sec-nation) today shows the abuse taken to new heights:

> Farm bloc lawmakers yesterday offered the U.S. fruit and vegetable industry $1.8 billion in new federal grants over the next five years as part of a farm bill that would leave in place far larger subsidies for grain, cotton and dairy producers.
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> The concessions were part of a balancing act by House Democrats to craft a bill that will satisfy politically powerful farm interests while also bearing a Democratic imprint of reform. The House Agriculture Committee was set to vote on the legislation late last night or today.
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> The package, unveiled yesterday by Committee Chairman [Collin C. Peterson](http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/p000258/) (D‑Minn.), also increases funding for land conservation, wetlands protection and nutrition programs — popular with environmental groups and urban lawmakers.
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> House Speaker [Nancy Pelosi](http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/p000197/) (D‑Calif.) called the package ‘a good first step toward needed reform.’

Let’s see: Congress is keeping all the old programs, creating new subsidies for fruits and vegetables, increasing funding for conservation and nutrition programs. That’s reform?

The story title is also worthy of *The Onion*: “Farm Bill Leaves Some Subsidies.” *Some* subsidies?!

##### Related Tags 

[General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics), [Tax and Budget Policy](https://www.cato.org/tax-budget-policy), [Department of Agriculture](https://www.cato.org/department-agriculture), [Downsizing Government](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government) 

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