VETO OVERRULED: In a show of bipartisan unity, the U.S. House of Representatives overrode President Bush's veto of the farm bill 316 to 108. But will a section of the bill the House inadvertently left out jeopardize its passage?

Bush vetoed the $307 billion farm bill Wednesday, saying it subsidizes rich farmers who don't need any help, and that it unnecessarily increases farm spending by $20 billion.

Bipartisan Bill Likely to Survive Veto

The bill sets the nation's food policy for the next five years. Both the House and the Senate approved a final version of the farm bill last week by overwhelming majorities. Bush vetoed the measure, saying it takes taxpayer money and gives it away to wealthy farmers. He also points to high crop and land prices, which make it a prosperous time for big farmers.

When the House sent the bill to Bush for his approval, however, it accidentally left out 34 pages of the final bill. House leaders wonder if this negates Bush's veto and their override vote. The House held an expedited vote yesterday to revote on the bill in its entirety and then resend it to Bush for a new veto. The House plans to hold its veto override vote again.

Farm Bill Critics Say...

Critics of the final farm bill oppose it for the following reasons:

• Congress failed to reduce the bill's $5 billion a year farmer subsidies before sending it to the president, even though Bush warned he would veto for that and other reasons.
• These kinds of subsidies, especially for farmers who earn up between $500,000 and $2.5 million a year, are unfair and inappropriately influence agriculture policy.
• The Bush administration found extra subsidies that Congress "snuck" in during closed-door negotiations for grain farmers if grain prices tank.
• The bill's new farmer aid program would use taxpayer money to compensate a farmer whose crops fail based on the record-high prices of today, even if prices drop in the future.

Farm Bill Supporters Say...

Advocates of the final farm bill support it for the following reasons:

• The bill helps the country balance its need to support farmers and land conservation while feeding the poor.
• The bill increases nutrition programs such as food stamps and school snack programs by $10.4 billion.
• It also increases farm and environmental conservation programs by $4 billion.
• It establishes a new permanent disaster program for $3.8 billion to encourage farmers to plow their less-productive lands.

Copyright © 2009 Informify

Sources

Senate set to join House on override of farm bill veto(San Francisco Chronicle, 5/22/08)

House votes to override Bush's farm bill veto (The Los Angeles Times/Chicago Tribune, 5/22/08)

Question for Readers:

Do you think President Bush is looking out for the little guy by vetoing the latest farm bill?