WASHINGTON (AP) -- When Congress reopened the government's discrimination settlement with black farmers, lawmakers budgeted just $100 million for damages. They probably should have handed over a blank check.With more than 70,000 potential claimants, the liability could exceed $3 billion -- three times what was paid out in the original 1999 agreement.
The settlement was reopened thanks to legislation added to the farm bill passed last month. It illustrates how lawmakers often manipulate pay-as-you-go budget rules to give the appearance they are balancing the federal checkbook.
Supporters acknowledge that the $100 million was an arbitrary amount that will not come close to covering the actual cost. Yet the measure ran into little opposition during the monthslong debate on the farm bill, mainly because of the artificially low price tag.
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