'Golden crutches': Ben Sasse and Rand Paul respond to report of $12 billion 'welfare' payment to farmers affected by Trump tariffs

Greg P. | 1:02 PM on July 24, 2018

Earlier today we told you how President Trump said “tariffs are the greatest!” and “All will be Great!”…

Tariffs are the greatest! Either a country which has treated the United States unfairly on Trade negotiates a fair deal, or it gets hit with Tariffs. It’s as simple as that – and everybody’s talking! Remember, we are the “piggy bank” that’s being robbed. All will be Great!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2018

…well, if things are so great why do farmers need a $12 billion bailout?

BREAKING: White House readies plan to extend about $12 billion in emergency aid to farmers caught in Trump’s escalating trade war https://t.co/HfEvDBZu6I

— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) July 24, 2018

Sen. Ben Sasse called the emergency aid, “golden crutches”:

.@BenSasse: “This trade war is cutting the legs out from under farmers and White House’s ‘plan’ is to spend $12 billion on gold crutches. America’s farmers don’t want to be paid to lose they want to win by feeding the world…"

— David M. Drucker (@DavidMDrucker) July 24, 2018

Sen. Sasse added, this will make America “1929 again”:

Sen. Sasse (R-NE) stmnt —

"This administration’s tariffs and bailouts aren’t going to make America great again, they’re just going to make it 1929 again.”

— Steven Portnoy (@stevenportnoy) July 24, 2018

And Sen. Rand Paul called it “welfare for farmers”:

Tariffs are taxes that punish American consumers and producers. If tariffs punish farmers, the answer is not welfare for farmers — the answer is remove the tariffs.

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) July 24, 2018