Kevin Yoder, spending foe, grew up on government-subsidized farm

Following his “Get Elected: Republicans Rule 2010!” playbook, Congressional candidate Kevin Yoder complains about government spending at every opportunity. “Government must stop spending,” says his list of priorities. “Period.”

But people very close to Yoder may not to take such a hard line. His father, Wayne, has received more than a half a million dollars in farm subsidies from the U.S. government since 1995.

Wayne Yoder owns a farm in Hutchinson, Kansas. He grows corn, sorghum, soybeans and wheat, according to the Environmental Working Group, which maintains a database of U.S. agriculture subsidies. The database is a major source of irritation to Big Ag as well as rural Americans who like to lord their self-reliance over us cityfolk.

Papa Yoder receives an average annual subsidy of $35,988, according to the database. He collected $68,254 in 1999, the year Kevin earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas.

Government assistance has come in handy at the Yoder household. But Candidate Yoder talks like a guy who plans to ride into Washington with a chastity belt and a blowtorch. “We need leaders who can stand up and cut spending,” he says in his one of his ads.

Asked about the farm subsidies, Yoder, to his credit, did not immediately reach for the amber waves of grain card and try to make farmers sound more deserving of national treasure than, say, autoworkers or the Environmental Protection Agency.

“We have to reduce the growth of government and all programs — including farm subsidies — should be examined for potential savings,” he said in a statement. “I have made the tough choices in Topeka to balance the budget and I’ll do it in Washington.”

Telling the old man (and his relatives and neighbors) “Enough!” — that would be a tough choice.