Thread: House pass`s farm bill

I have heard that Pelosi would like the American people to take care of, food stamps and public services, all the poor people and illegal aliens in the U. S . and raise their standard of living . Statistics say 16 million Americans live in poverty and this bill will
take care of 38 million " American " family`s . Sounds like Pelosi is getting what she want`s . Even after taking care of these Americans she has lots of money left over for illegals .


May 14, 2008, 10:41PM
House solidly passes farm bill
Measure raising aid and subsidies may be veto-proof


By MARY CLARE JALONICK
Associated Press


The bill also would:
• Boost nutrition programs, including food stamps and emergency domestic food aid, by more than $10 billion over 10 years.

• Increase subsidies for certain crops, including fruits and vegetables excluded from previous farm bills.

• Extend dairy programs.

• Increase loan rates for sugar producers.

• Urge the government to buy surplus sugar and sell it to ethanol producers for use in a mixture with corn.

• Cut a per-gallon ethanol tax credit for refiners from 51 cents to 45 cents. The credit supports the blending of fuel with the corn-based additive.

• Require that meats and other fresh foods carry labels with their country of origin.

• Pay farmers for weather-related farm losses from a new $3.8 billion disaster relief fund.
WASHINGTON — By a strong, veto-proof majority, the House passed a $290 billion farm bill with increased subsidies for farmers and food stamps for the poor amid rising grocery prices while sprinkling in pet projects that lawmakers can take home to voters this election year.

The 318-106 vote for the five-year bill gave supporters 28 more than they need to override a promised veto from President Bush, who has complained the measure is too expensive and generous to farmers now enjoying record earnings. "A bloated, earmark-laden bill," his agriculture secretary said after the vote.

About two-thirds of the bill would pay for nutrition programs such as food stamps and emergency food aid for the needy. An additional $40 billion is for farm subsidies while almost $30 billion would go to farmers to idle their land and to other environmental programs.

The Senate planned to vote on the bill today. Rejecting a veto by Bush would be even easier in the Senate because farm states have greater representation than in the House. Congress has only overridden one veto, on a water projects bill, during Bush's two terms.


House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the measure "will drastically increase nutrition initiatives that will help 38 million American families put health food on their table."

She made it clear she would have preferred smaller farm subsidies, but deferred to some Democratic colleagues looking ahead to the fall campaign.

Only 91 Republicans voted against the bill. Bush was abandoned by 100 GOP lawmakers one day after the party lost its third straight special election this year for filling House vacancies. All three districts — one each in Illinois, Louisiana and Mississippi — include rural farm areas and now have Democrats in seats long held by Republicans.

Some Republicans criticized the mostly bipartisan and popular bill because of a few home-state causes, including tax breaks for Kentucky racehorse owners and additional aid for salmon fishermen in the Pacific Northwest.

"This bill has been under consideration for a long, long time, and yet still we have earmarks that have been 'air dropped' into the legislation," complained Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer renewed Bush's veto threat after the vote. "I encourage members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to support his stand for fiscal discipline and the best interests of America's farmers and ranchers," Schafer said.


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5780856.html

It amazes me how our government can keep spending money we do not have. The government wants Americans to be responsible and pay their bills and TAXES when due, yet the gov. pushes us further into debt daily.

Why don't WE ever get to vote on some of these spending bills--it's our money !!!!

There is a lot to dislike in this bill! However, there is one thing in the bill that I do support:

• Require that meats and other fresh foods carry labels with their country of origin,

Overall, it's not a bill that I could support. Bush has got it right in regards to providing subsidies to farmers who make in excess of $200,000 - we shouldn't be doing it!