Sugar subsidies under attack again in Washington

WASHINGTON – Subsidies for the sugar industry, which has powerful friends in Florida, need to be updated to "level the playing field for American manufacturers and their families when it comes to being able to create jobs," a group will argue Monday.

The Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy will promote its message in a call with reporters.

"The family farmer and the families that depend on manufacturing workers should be at the center of modernizing the sugar program. Our modest approach is the right policy to protect and create jobs for both the family farmer and American manufacturing workers," said John Downs, president & CEO of the National Confectioners Association and co-chair of the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy.

"There is a simple solution – it's time for Congress to say yes to fairness, yes to competitiveness, and yes to protecting and creating American manufacturing jobs."

The group, a coalition of food and beverage makers, environmental and taxpayer watchdogs, takes aim at the sugar subsidy program, arguing it "forces manufacturers to pay twice as much for sugar as the rest of the world."

It plans an 11 a.m. conference call with reporters in support of the Sugar Policy Modernization Act (H.R. 4265 / S. 2086).