There ain’t a dime’s worth of difference between the Republicans and the Democrats.

This quote is attributed to the late George C. Wallace, governor of Alabama in the 1960s and again in the 1980s, and frequent candidate for President of the United States.

I used to think it was true and have thought so at times recently. But take a look at the vote on the recent farm bill, which spends an ungodly amount of money on farmers. Remember that the beneficiaries tend to be in rural districts and that rural districts and rural states are disproportionately represented by Republicans.

That makes the lopsided nature of the vote all the more striking.

Of 190 Democratic members of the House of Representatives who voted on the bill, only 3 voted against. That’s only 1.6%.

Of 226 Republican members of the House of Representatives who voted on the bill, 44 voted against. That’s 19.5%.

Now take a look at the Senate vote on the same bill. The results are even more striking.

Of the 51 Republican Senators, 13 voted against the bill. That’s 25.5%.

Of the 47 Democratic Senators and two Independent Senators (who typically vote with the Democrats), 0 voted against the bill. That’s 0%.

Looks like well over a dime’s worth of difference.