Often sugar-company executives also give contributions to members. Soft money has become the main vehicle for wealthy individuals, corporations, and labor unions to deliver millions of dollars to political parties without regard for the limits and other requirements of federal law. Sugar money's test of power comes every five years in the farm bill debate. In 1995, the 104th Congress takes up the farm bill, providing the first opportunity to reform the sugar support program since 1990. The sugar industry and its corporate opponents have given heavy campaign contributions to current members of the agriculture committees, the first stop for any reforms .
Sugar money rewards sugar supporters.
All this provides a basis to evaluate how the 104th Congress deals with the 1995 farm bill. With a new Republican Congress eager to prove itself an opponent of what it considers wasteful government programs, the sugar support program will be a crucial test. Changing Domestic and International Conditions Require Program Changes , an April 1993 report by the General Accounting Office. The PAC was started in 1988 but didn't start giving contributions until 1990. Not only do many food companies use sugar in some fashion, but these companies also tend to be diverse, with many interests beyond sugar.