HYPOCRITE MIKE LEAVITT AGAINST HEALTH INSURANCE FOR NEEDY CHILDREN BUT DOES NOT COMPLAIN OVER FEDERAL FARM SUBSIDIES

The Salt Lake Tribune has a story this morning by Dawn House on how much Mike Leavitt has reaped from the federal government in agricultural subsidies over the past few years - $233,000. This figure includes farm subsidies received by business in which Leavitt's family has an interest.

Recall that this is the same Mike Leavitt who recently came out against expanding coverage for children's health insurance, saying that he and Bush were philosophically against expanding government programs for health insurance for needy children and their families. So Leavitt does not mind accepting farm subsidies from the federal government totalling hundreds of thousands of dollars but it riles him that the government would pay health insurance premiums for children who have no way of paying for their doctor and hospital bills.

Writes Dawn House:

"Another Utah millionaire receiving farm subsidies is Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt, a former insurance executive. Leavitt owned a 13 percent interest in a subsidized farming operation in Wayne County, which received $200,887 in disaster, crop and dairy supports. The payments started in 1999, six years after Leavitt became Utah governor (he left office in 2003).

"Leavitt sold off his holdings in 2005 from his family's insurance business and cattle operations, valued at a minimum of $5.1 million, to avoid conflicts of interest once he became chief of the federal agency. He retains a 13 percent interest in Leavitt Land and Investment, valued at $1 million to $5 million, which received conservation subsidies on land in Clark County, Nev., in 2000, 2001 and 2005 totaling $32,340.

"We're concerned that the government is giving away money to rich, absentee landlords, and it appears to be the case with Mr. Leavitt," said Sandra Schubert, director of government affairs with Environmental Working Group. "We would like to see these taxpayer dollars going to people who are struggling and who actually are working the land."

"Leavitt, who made a minimum of $380,000 in interest payments alone for 2005 in addition to his annual federal salary of $189,000, apparently might still qualify for subsidy payments under the bill passed by the House, but would not have under a $200,000 cap.

"Leavitt declined to comment, but family spokesman and his brother, Dane Leavitt, said, "We have participated in programs that Congress has enacted to meet policy objectives of the government and believe we have done it consistent with the law and appropriate procedures." "