Senate Approves Payment of Black Farmers’ Claims

[Blue_Tires]

By ASHLEY SOUTHALL

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Friday approved $4.55 billion to settle longstanding charges that the federal government had denied or underpaid aid to black farmers and mismanaged trust funds for American Indians.

The bill sets aside $1.15 billion to resolve racial bias claims brought by black farmers against the Agriculture Department and $3.4 billion to pay claims stemming from the Department of the Interior’s handling of American Indian trust funds.

The Senate approved the measure by unanimous consent on Friday evening and sent it to the House. Similar measures have passed the House twice, and President Obama has said he would sign the bill into law.

“It’s been a long time coming, and it’s the right thing to do,” said Ralph Paige, executive director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, which helps primarily African-American farmers keep their land.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=258

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/20/us/politics/20farm.html?_r=1

[Brewman_Jax]

1. This is good news!

and the republicans didn't find a way to stand in front of this. :applause:

[Number23]

2. Their wailing and gnashing their teeth though.

Calling this "reparations" and wondering if Obama did this to "buy black votes." :eyes: God, I hate those people.

[Kweli4Real]

3. Well ...

To be honest, this act, by it's very definition, IS reparations.

So let them wail ... Then we "inform" them that all legal decisions ordering a plaintiff be made whole or sending a defendant to jail is "REPARATIONS."