WASHINGTON, May 21, 2008
House Overrides Bush Veto Of Farm Bill
$290B Legislation Includes Election-Year Subsidies For Farmers And Food Stamps For The Poor
-
(AP / file)
-
Interactive Bush Presidency The president's agenda, plus facts, figures, major events and key personalities.
Only hours before the House's 316-108 vote, Mr. Bush had vetoed the five-year measure, saying it was too expensive and gave too much money to wealthy farmers when farm incomes are high.
The legislation includes election-year subsidies for farmers and food stamps for the poor - spending that lawmakers could promote when they are back in their districts over the Memorial Day weekend.
The Senate could turn to the bill as soon as Wednesday night; there were expected to be enough votes to overturn the veto.
The veto was the 10th of Mr. Bush's presidency. Congress so far has overridden him once, on a water projects bill.
With Mr. Bush at record lows in the polls in the waning months of his term, it was fellow Republicans who joined with majority Democrat in rejecting the veto. GOP lawmakers are anxious about their own prospects less than six months from the Election Day.
About two-thirds of the bill would pay for nutrition programs such as food stamps; about $40 billion is for farm subsidies; and additional $30 billion would go to farmers to idle their land and to other environmental programs.
Congressional Republicans overwhelmingly abandoned Mr. Bush in voting to pass the bill last week. They overlooking its cost amid public concern about the weak economy and high gas and grocery prices. Supporters praised the spending on food stamps and emergency food aid.
"Twenty-five percent of my state is now in need of food assistance," said Rep. Thaddeus G. McCotter, R-Mich. "I work for them, not for the president."
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the bill could make the situation worse for struggling families.
"Members are going to have to think about how they will explain these votes back in their districts at a time when prices are on the rise," she said. "People are not going to want to see their taxes increase."
Mr. Bush said the legislation needlessly would expand government. He cited one new program in the bill that would pay more to corn farmers and others if agriculture revenue were to drop significantly in the next five years. This program, he said, could add billions of dollars to the cost of the bill.
He added that minor cutbacks to subsidies for wealthy farmers were not sufficient.
"At a time when net farm income is projected to increase by more than $28 billion in 1 year, the American taxpayer should not be forced to subsidize that group of farmers who have adjusted gross incomes of up to $1.5 million," the president said in his veto.
Congressional negotiators tried to make some last-minute changes in the bill to come closer to the White House on that issue.
The bill would make small cuts to direct payments, which are distributed to some farmers no matter how much they grow. It also would eliminate some payments to individuals with more than $750,000 in annual farm income - or married farmers who make more than $1.5 million. Previously, negotiators were considering a $950,000 income cap for individuals on farm income.
Individuals who make more than $500,000 or couples who make more than $1 million jointly in nonfarm income also would not be eligible for subsidies.
Under current law, there is no income limit for farmers, and married couples who make less than one-fourth of their income from farming will not receive subsidies if their joint income exceeds $5 million.
The administration originally proposed a cap for those who make more than $200,000 in annual gross income, but later indicated it could accept a limit of $500,000.
The chairman of the House Agriculture said the version of the bill vetoed by the president was missing one section by mistake. But Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., said he expected that issue to be resolved. Aides said the section, which includes international food aid, might have to be passed separately or as part of a different bill.
The farm bill also would:
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More From Politics
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
- 1
- 2
- 3
- next
See all 49 Comments...or how it relates to this story...
Posted by mainedoggie at 12:47 AM : May 22, 2008
Say what????? Coherence please if you''re going to post here!
the oil companies that are making 15 billion in a QUARTER.
AND PAYING ABOUT NINE BILLION A QUARTER IN TAXES.
THE PART YOU YOU DON''''T HEAR ABOUT
Posted by bretster7 at 11:39 PM : May 21, 2008
---------------------------------------
Apparently the bretster7 is part of the crew that is cashing in here...
sig heil, ...
Posted by walt1944 at 09:24 PM : May 21, 2008
---------------------------------
sig heil.... Hmmmmmmm... Sounds familiar...
The login name has changed but the rhetoric and name-calling are the same. According to his narrow-minded way of thinking, we don''t have a right to disagree. Sound familiar?? Sound like Hitler? Hmmmmmm.... Who is the nazi here?
I''''ll tell you what it is...you hippocrit democrats always got plenty to say when you want to accuse Bush of lining the pocket of oil companies...but somehow you don''''t see anything wrong with big handouts to farming corporations. That''''s the mantra of democrats...situational ethics. If farmers weren''''t paid to NOT grow crops...that would result in more food being grown and lower costs for people who are stuggling with higher food prices. Don''''t bother to respond with your usual yada, yada , yada Nazi, yada, yada, yada bootlicker, yada, yada, yada
swastika. Just finish drinking yourself to sleep you old fool.
-------------------
Another rethug idiot. You just do not get it. The farming subsidies are coming from sorts like you, you knuckle-head!
You neocon Fascist Nazis are pathetic!
SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, DEFINITELY MORE OF THE SAME, McCain!!!!
Posted by walt1944 at 09:24 PM : May 21, 2008
...neocon Fascist Nazis????
LOL!!! I am a liberal who grew up on a farm in a time when NON-FARMER John Wayne was getting farm subsidies that he didn''t need. Actor John Wayne took farm subsidies from other farmers who needed them more than Wayne did.
LOL!!! I''m now living in a time when NON-FARMER David Letterman is getting farm subsidies that he doesn''t need. Why does an extremely wealthy entertainer like Letterman need to take farm subsidies from another farmer who needs them?
Your caustic remarks and name-calling are not necessary, however, they ARE an indication of your intelligence level.
But I won''t argue with you. Arguing with an untelligent fool only lowers one to the fool''s level.
AND PAYING ABOUT NINE BILLION A QUARTER IN TAXES.
THE PART YOU YOU DON''T HEAR ABOUT
Neocon Fascist Nazis idea of success:
Dollar equals zero.
THANK THE FED AND ALAN GREENSPAN WHO WAS THE FED CHAIR FOR THE LAST FOUR ADMINISTRATIONS. cAN''T LAY BLAME TO A SINGLE ADMINISTRATION FOR THAT ONE.
$20.00 a gallon gas.
OUR DOMESTIC OIL PRODUCTION HAS DECREASED BY 50% SINCE 1985,WHILE CONSUMPTION HAS GONE UP 40%.THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP HAS DECIDED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BLOCK ANY LEGISLATION THAT ALLOWS DOMESTIC DRILLING FOR MORE OIL. IN FACT THEY JUST BLOCKED A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED ACCESSING A TRILLION BARRELS OF OIL SHALE. THEY HAVE BLOCKED DRILLING OFF THE GULF COAST, AS WELL AS ANWAR. IF YOU THINK THAT BUSH WHOM YOU SO QUICKLY POINT OUT AS BEING A DUNCE, C
HAS ANY SAY ON WHAT A BARREL OF OIL COSTS, YOU ARE NOT ONLY IGNORANT TO SUPPLY AND DEMAND, BUT ARE DELUSIONAL IF YOU THINK THE PRICE WILL MAGICALLY DROP WHEN A DEM GETS ELECTED.
Make jobs leave America by the thousands.
NAFTA....SIGNED INTO LAW BY CLINTON
Reveal the identities of CIA agents.
JUST MORE IDIOTIC LIBERAL TALKING POINTS
Break all Amendments of the Constitution while saying F-the Constitution.
???????
Home sales and new construction eauals zero.
ANYONE WITH ANY COMMON SENCE KNOWS THAT HOUSING IS CYCLICAL. THERE WAS OVERBUILDING AND OVER INFLATION OF THE PRICES. GO CHECK YOUR HISTORY
Mission Accomplished nutjob
Posted by MCVet at 09:21 PM : May 21, 2008
I''ll tell you what it is...you hippocrit democrats always got plenty to say when you want to accuse Bush of lining the pocket of oil companies...but somehow you don''t see anything wrong with big handouts to farming corporations. That''s the mantra of democrats...situational ethics. If farmers weren''t paid to NOT grow crops...that would result in more food being grown and lower costs for people who are stuggling with higher food prices. Don''t bother to respond with your usual yada, yada , yada Nazi, yada, yada, yada bootlicker, yada, yada, yada
swastika. Just finish drinking yourself to sleep you old fool.
Dollar equals zero.
$20.00 a gallon gas.
Make jobs leave America by the thousands.
Reveal the identities of CIA agents.
Break all Amendments of the Constitution while saying F-the Constitution.
Home sales and new construction eauals zero.
Mission Accomplished nutjobs.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- next
See all 49 Comments