It's about time ... to end ag subsidies

Fifteen years and billions of dollars later, legislation has been proposed that would "eliminate agriculture direct payments subsidies completely and permanently."

When these direct payments to farmers began in 1996, they were meant "to serve as a temporary transitional handout to farmers as they moved in a more market-oriented direction."

But good intentions do not a temporary government program make.

The direct payments program has cost taxpayers $41 billion since Congress made it permanent in 2002.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, eliminating these subsidies would save $28 billion over the next decade.