House Backs Farm Bill With Numbers to Beat Veto

[deminks]

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — The House overwhelmingly approved a $300 billion farm bill on Wednesday afternoon, making it probable that the measure will become law despite President Bush’s anticipated veto.

The 318-to-106 vote, far over the two-thirds needed to override a veto, sends the bill to the Senate, where the measure is also expected to have veto-proof support. Although predictions can be dicey in political Washington, the measure’s strength in the Senate has been seen as even more robust than in the House.

The House result, with 100 Republicans joining 218 Democrats to vote for the bill, made good on the predictions of the bill’s chief shepherd, Representative Collin Peterson, a Minnesota Democrat who heads the House Agriculture Committee.

“My goal is to get over 300 votes,” Mr. Peterson told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “We have the possibility of getting that done. Three hundred votes seals the deal.” Only 15 Democrats opposed the bill, as did 91 Republicans.

Read more: http://biz.yahoo.com/nytimes/080514/1194775170589.html?.v=4

[no_hypocrisy]

1. He still has an ace up his sleeve. He can sign the Bill with one of his infamous

Signing Statements that narrows its application so much that it is worthless.

[PFunk]

2. Argreed, unless they put somethign in it to counter that.

Still this may be the first sign of repug's finially throwing B*sh under the bus to try and save their own skins in 08'.

[Robbien]

3. Sorry, this is not a bill that I support

When 95% of farm aid goes to factory farms and the bill still sends money to support using food to feed hummer gas tanks, this is a bill which should fail.

It is no wonder so many GOPers support it.

[SlicerDicer-]

4. I do think that there should be financial aid if needed

or help to new farmers who wish to get started. However I think any help should be limited to 20 acres or smaller. You know the people you usto meet at the farmers market that are no longer there :/

Yeah..

[NashVegas]

6. I Can't Either. I Hope Bush Vetos This and It Holds

[Newsjock]

5. More about this bill

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/14/MNIJ10M871.DTL&tsp=1

... The overwhelming House vote quashed hopes by food, conservation and taxpayer groups that the Democratic-led Congress would seize a period of record farm prosperity to shift U.S. food policy from a 1930s model that subsidizes industrial food production to a modernized approach that could aid more farmers and address new public health and environmental goals.

... Democrats also expanded subsidies to new crops and raised subsidy levels, exposing taxpayers to billions more in costs should commodity prices retreat. The payments go to a minority of farmers of a few crops and are highly concentrated among the biggest operations. Nine of 10 farmers in California do not get crop subsidies.

... Every Bay Area Democrat voted for the bill but one: liberal East Bay Rep. Pete Stark.

"It is a rare day indeed that I agree with President Bush," Stark said, "but he is absolutely right to have issued a veto threat of this bill."

The legislation is loaded with special-interest earmarks. California salmon fishermen get a $170 billion bailout added by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa. Kentucky thoroughbred racehorse owners get a $126 million tax write off. The bill will force the federal government to sell parts of the Green Mountain National Forest to a Vermont ski resort.