Press Releases

Just Like Sec. Sonny Perdue, Sen. Joni Ernst Looks Past Family Farms To Corporate Interests

Oct 03, 2019

Ernst has taken thousands of dollars from Big Ag corporate PACs over the course of her political career

In 2017, Ernst voted to confirm then Governor Sonny Perdue as Secretary of Agriculture 

After an appearance at the World Dairy Expo in Madison this week, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told reporters that small farms don’t “have a guaranteed income or guaranteed profitability.” Perdue also stated that “In America, the big get bigger and the small go out.” The statements come as family farms across the country, including in Iowa, struggle to compete against corporate agriculture’s dominance over the farming industry, which is bolstered by a government captured by corporate special interests.

“Secretary Perdue’s comments reflect a corrupt Washington establishment captured by corporate special interests, and Senator Ernst is part of the problem,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “Joni Ernst eagerly takes corporate PAC money, voted for a tax bill that was a massive giveaway to corporate agricultural giants, and has no answers for family farms struggling to make ends meet in Iowa.”

Throughout her time in the Senate, Joni Ernst has taken thousands in donations from Big Ag corporate PACs, including Monsanto and Syngenta. Ernst also voted for the 2017 Republican tax bill that gave massive tax cuts to big corporations.

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