The Watermelon Queen – currently a 19-year-old college student named Jordan Skipper — has become a point of contention in the ongoing debt-ceiling debate. Republican lawmakers point to federal funding of the queen’s travel expenses as an example of the kind of wasteful spending that’s continually pushing the nation up against its statutory borrowing limit.
“The American people don’t equate funding bonds with funding the Alabama Watermelon Queen. There’s something very different between a bond obligation and another priority,” Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R., Texas), said in a C-SPAN interview last week.
Sen. Tom Coburn (R., Okla.) singled out the Watermelon Queen in his annual “Wastebook” spending report, which highlights “examples of some of the most egregious ways your taxpayer dollars were wasted.”
The roots of the criticism stem from federal grants the Alabama Watermelon Association Inc. receives to promote the consumption of the state’s watermelon through appearances of the Alabama Watermelon Queen. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s specialty crop block grant program has awarded two $25,000 grants to pay for her promotional travel expenses in 2010 and 2012, according to the association.
The Watermelon Queen travels to schools, farmers markets, stores and other events to talk up the state’s specialty crop, which generated more than $6.5 million in revenues in 2009, association representatives say. In 2013, the queen visited eight watermelon conventions and festivals, 10 schools and 15 retail stores.
“Our objective is to increase consumer awareness of the nutritional benefits and versatility of watermelon, as well as, food safety practices when handling and eating watermelon, and to increase overall consumption of Alabama watermelon,” said Katie Eubanks, the association’s promotions coordinator.
The association doesn’t enjoy being a Washington punch line and thinks lawmakers would feel differently if they understood the program’s intent and mission.
“Most of the schools visited were in low economic areas with underprivileged students,” said Marti Smith, the association’s treasurer. “It’s a little heart-wrenching when a student looks at you and tells you they’ve never tasted watermelon because their parents can’t afford it.”
Ms. Skipper, the reigning queen, explains to students – and parents – how to make the best use of a large watermelon, offering recipe, storage and other tips, Ms. Smith said.
And, rather than fritter away the money, Ms. Smith said they’ve used only about half of the 2012 grant and received approval to roll over the funds for the next year.
“There are so many things politically that get focused on negatively,” Ms. Smith says. “It’s just $25,000.”
Of course, the Alabama grant is just one of more than $50 million in specialty crop block grants awarded by the USDA in 2014, according to various reports. More information on the program was unavailable due to the government shutdown, according to the USDA’s website.
Mr. Hensarling, in an interview, said he has nothing personally against the Watermelon Queen. “I just don’t think the guy working overtime should have to pay for her travel,” he said.
Mr. Hensarling says the U.S. should stop simply raising the debt limit, which enables the U.S. to run a deficit, and tackle “the greatest single existential threat to our economy — our debt.” Cutting out spending on programs like the Watermelon Queen, he says, would be a good first step.
CORRECTION: Sen. Tom Coburn (R., Okla.) singled out the Watermelon Queen in his annual “Wastebook” spending report. A previous version of this post said Sen. Bob Corker (R., Okla.) singled out the Watermelon Queen.
No comments:
Post a Comment