Every two years, “Minnesota Agriculture” publishes a list of voting records on farm issues by the Minnesota Legislature.

In 2002, Bachmann scored only 20 per cent on farm issues. 1 (Compare Bachmann’s 20 per cent rating with that of Senator Ellen Anderson—she represents the city of St. Paul and she got a 100 per cent rating on farm issues that year.)  Bachmann voted against adding the biodiesel promotion provisions to the Omnibus Agriculture Bill in 2001. 2 She voted against biodiesel promotion again in 2002, even though it would have promoted rural economic development, cleaner air and energy security. 3 And when rural schools needed emergency assistance to pay for heat, Bachmann voted against that. 4 

In 2004, Bachmann scored only 40 per cent on issues tracked by the Minnesota Farmers’ Union. 5 (Again, compare Bachmann’s 40 per cent rating with that of Senator Ellen Anderson of St. Paul--she got a 90 per cent rating on farm issues.) 6 Bachmann voted for cuts to the ethanol producer payment, sustainable demonstration grants, and value-added cooperative grants. 7 She voted to kill a bill that would have help schools establish vending machine policies that promote milk and other nutritional beverages. 8

But in 2005, Bachmann decided to run for election to Congress to represent Minnesota’s Sixth District—and there are a lot of farmers in the 6th District.

Bachmann needed those farm votes to get elected. So suddenly--she did an about-face. She started voting in favor of the farmers and their kids, instead of against them. In 2006, Bachmann’s rating shot up to 70 per cent. (Still worse than Senator Anderson of St. Paul—she scored 80 per cent that year.) 9 The Farmers Union reported that Senator Bachmann had voted against the dairy investment tax credit, the bovine TB tax credit, and agricultural property tax reform. 10

But if Bachmann gets elected to Congress, she won’t need the farmers anymore. As an incumbent she can expect to take in at least $20,000 a week to promote her own re-election.  Nationally, there is a five-to-one fundraising advantage for incumbents over challengers. 11

And Bachmann’s strongest supporters come from outside the 6th district; from outside Minnesota. For example, she’s already taken in more than $50,000 in contributions from the Alliance for Separation of School and State—an out-of-state interest group that wants to end all funding for public schools. 12

In short, if she’s elected it won’t matter how many times she votes against farmers during the next two years. Her campaign war chest will make her practically invulnerable to any challenge.

So if Michele Bachmann does make it to Congress, what will she do to 6th District farmers-- when she doesn’t need their support to get elected anymore?

1. MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION STATE LEGISLATIVE VOTING RECORDS, 2001-02.

2. MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION STATE LEGISLATIVE VOTING RECORDS, 2001-02.

3. MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION STATE LEGISLATIVE VOTING RECORDS, 2001-02.

4. MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION STATE LEGISLATIVE VOTING RECORDS, 2001-02.

5. MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION STATE LEGISLATIVE VOTING RECORDS, 2003-2004.

6. MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION STATE LEGISLATIVE VOTING RECORDS, 2003-2004.

7. MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION STATE LEGISLATIVE VOTING RECORDS, 2003-2004

8. MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION STATE LEGISLATIVE VOTING RECORDS, 2003-2004

9. MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION STATE LEGISLATIVE VOTING RECORDS, 2005-06.

10. MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION STATE LEGISLATIVE VOTING RECORDS, 2005-06.

11. http://www.opensecrets.org/overview/incumbs.asp?cycle=2006

12. http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/editorial/15219869.htm