Maher gets serious on farm bill

Prickly liberal comedian Bill Maher never has been shy about mouthing off on Iraq or any controversial political subject on his TV program.

{mosads}But a recent letter on farm policy from Maher to Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) uses a decidedly drier, wonkier tone than Maher’s fans and detractors have come to expect.

“The Farm Bill provides billions of dollars in subsidies for unhealthy foods that contribute to childhood obesity and other diet-related illnesses,” such as diabetes, Maher wrote to Harkin on Wednesday, on behalf of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Maher, who hosts HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” when he’s not hanging out at the Playboy Mansion, urged that more federal dollars go to produce farmers.

“Less than 1 percent of Farm Bill subsidies go to fruit and vegetable farmers,” compared to 75 percent for meat and dairy products, according to Maher.