Florida Sweetens the Deal for Sugar

The Sunshine State is planning to buy out the U.S. Sugar Corp. for the hefty price of $1.75 billion, and give the 187,000 acres of land currently inhabited by sugar cane back to the alligators and pelicans of the Florida Everglades. But this isn’t the first time that money has passed between the government and the sugar industry. Citing CRP data, Forbes noted that government subsidies have been keeping U.S. Sugar Corp. afloat for years, effectively punishing consumers with higher prices, but rewarding the industry for its generous campaign contributions and lobbying efforts over the years.

The sugar industry has so far contributed more than $2.6 million to federal parties, candidates and committees in the current election cycle, already 80 percent of what was given in the 2006 cycle. Nearly 70 percent of this cycle’s total has gone to Democrats. While most agricultural groups tend Republican, the sugar industry has traditionally leaned Democratic. Only three of the industry’s top 20 congressional recipients this cycle are Republican, including Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) and two senators, Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), on the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. Meanwhile, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) has received more than $210,300 during his career from the sugar industry, more than any other senator. His counterpart in the House, Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), has collected more than $204,200.

The U.S. Sugar Corp. PAC has also donated $1,000 to Chairman Harkin this cycle. The PAC has given a total $16,000 to federal candidates so far, putting it on track to giving more than the $30,000 donated in the 2006 cycle. Overall, sugar industry PACs have contributed $2.2 million since 2007. The rest has come from individuals working in the industry.

The industry has done little so far to sweeten the presidential race. Democratic presidential nominee-to-be Barack Obama has collected around $3,300. Presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain received $2,000.

U.S. Sugar spent $50,000 on lobbying efforts in the first quarter of this year, on par with last year’s spending. In the first three months of this year, the entire industry has spent $2.3 million on federal lobbying, already more than half of what was spent last year. Over the past decade, the industry has put $39.4 million into lobbying efforts.