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Bush Vetoes Farm Bill
By Mark ImpomeniMay 21st 2008 4:30PM
Filed Under:ePresident Bush, Bush Administration, Featured Stories, Economy, Budget
In what is likely to prove an academic exercise, President Bush followed through on a threat and vetoed the recently passed 2008 Farm Bill. The $307 billion bill, officially titled the "Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008," extends many of the incentive and subsidy programs established in the 2002 Farm Bill in an era of rising food prices and farming incomes. The president cited both in his veto message to Congress.At a time of high food prices and record farm income, this bill lacks program reform and fiscal discipline. It continues subsidies for the wealthy and increases farm bill spending by more than $20 billion, while using budget gimmicks to hide much of the increase. It is inconsistent with our objectives in international trade negotiations, which include securing greater market access for American farmers and ranchers. It would needlessly expand the size and scope of government. Americans sent us to Washington to achieve results and be good stewards of their hard-earned taxpayer dollars. This bill violates that fundamental commitment. [...]But farm bills are politically popular, especially in election years, and this year's bill passed both Houses of Congress by veto-proof margins. Congress is expected to override the president's veto almost as soon as it receives the president's message.
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. When commodity prices are at record highs, it is irresponsible to increase government subsidy rates for 15 crops, subsidize additional crops, and provide payments that further distort markets.
The bill authorizes direct payments to farmers with incomes as high as $2.5 million. The Administration wants to limit payments to farms with non-farming incomes of less than $200,000. Congress would raise that cut off to $500,000 but would allow payments to farmers with incomes from farming activities of up to $950,000. The president also cited non-farm related spending earmarks and policy issues tucked in the legislation. Specifically he mentioned funds for water issues related to desert lakes, funds for the purchase of 400,000 acres of privately held land, a provision allowing for the non-competitive sale of public land for use by a ski resort, and expansion of the Davis-Bacon Act, a law that requires payment of prevailing wages on Federally funded construction projects.
Recent Comments
(Page 1 of 2)Rich6:28PMMay 21st 2008
Nothing really matters but the price of oil and there dosen't seem to be the normal quick fix to this problem. OPEC is going to teach us a lesson on supply and demand. Got any ideas other than growing corn?
kaflooey7:01PMMay 21st 2008
Farmers have incomes of $1.5 per year? Well, gee where are my overalls!?
david thompson7:44PMMay 21st 2008
poor dumb ass left wing farmers, crie me a bushel of oats for crist sake
Que sera sera10:44PMMay 21st 2008
summitbay5:29PMMay 21st 2008
funny. :)
Most are huge Agro business. The day of the small farmer which other farm bill(s) were for small farmers. Truth be known, some of the people voting for it may own stock or have friends who own these Argo Business.
suzanne10:50PMMay 21st 2008
Notables: Ted Turner - $206,948, Scottie Pippen $210,520, Sam Donaldson $$84,742, Ken Lay (that Ken Lay) $18,057...
David Rockefeller, a Billionaire received 99 times more subsidies than the average farmer. Why does a Billionaire need a farm subsidy?
What's wrong with this picture????
I am going to start my corn fields tomorrow!!
Jenn6:51AMMay 22nd 2008
FUCK BUSH HE WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS ONE OF THE WORST PRESIDENTS!! AGAIN HE VETOES A BILL THAT WILL HELP HARD WORKING FOLKS! FUCK BUSH AND I WOULD RATHER DIE THAN VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN THIS YEAR! THE ECONOMY IS IN THE SHITHOLE AND MCCAIN IS GOING TO COPY THE SAME BUSH POLICIES. THEY CAN TRY TO SWIFT BOAT OBAMA ALL YOU WONT, I WILL ELECT A DEMOCRAT IN OFFICE THIS YEAR!!!
GO OBAMA/HAGEL OR OBAMA/WEBB!!!
Jenn6:52AMMay 22nd 2008
McCain sucks!! McCain should sign Webb's G.I.Bill!!!
Stacey Boaz7:27AMMay 22nd 2008
Does anyone know where we can read this bill in it's entirety? I hate to try to comment on something that I know nothing about like so many pitiful human beings on here! I also hate to keep hearing the stupid racial slurs of some people about the presidential election!
suzanne8:03AMMay 22nd 2008
Stacey Boaz
The bill is some "673" pages in length and at a cost of $307 billion.
I don't know where you would view the bill in it's entirety.
I looked as well but can not find the bill.
I do know one thing it means our.. taxes will go up to pay for it.
The bill is very, very lucrative to farmers some owned by very large companies.
There is plenty on line and in the papers this morning in regard to it.
Suzanne
Vicky8:07AMMay 22nd 2008
Only about 11% of this bill is actually going to the farmer. The rest is for food stamps, welfare, and special interets. Our rural area is mainly farm families, we are a farm family ourselves, these programs sometimes are the difference between staying in and bankrupcy. The programs need to be developed with the family farms in mind not the big business. We don't show big profits. Gas prices, seeds, equipments costs, fertilizer prices, etc. have all skyrocked in the past several months. We will be lucky if we break even this year. People need to aware that "Farm Bills" are not designed to help the help the farmer anymore. We need real help otherwise people might start going hungry in this country.
Julie8:15AMMay 22nd 2008
My family has a small dairy, and we struggle just to pay bills. Cattle feed (corn going to ethanol has raised the feed prices)and fuel prices are really hurting us. The only people getting rich are the big agri-businesses and many of the Congressman benefit from passing the bills otherwise they wouldn't care about passing the bill. Farms are great tax ride offs for the rich.
Stacey Boaz8:56AMMay 22nd 2008
Thanks, Suzanne. I am determined to read and highlight as much as I can. I guess by the internet talk as well as my daughter (the all knowing and all seeing college student!) this bill allows the government to pay farmers NOT to grow crops or to grow a minimum of crops? I have a long weekend so this will be a priority. Once again, thanks.
suzanne9:07AMMay 22nd 2008
Stacey Boaz
The farm bill conference report is (H.R. 2419)
Thanks,
Suzanne
suzanne9:11AMMay 22nd 2008
www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.2419
Left out where I found it (Library Of Congress)
Suzanne
elogco3:30PMMay 22nd 2008
I agree that the bill should go ONLY to help small farmers. But here you have a president who increased subsidies while running for a second term with the collusion of the Republican controlled Congress. Now he belatedly opposes it as fiscally irresponsible. I guess he's intellectually incapable of seeing the contradiction.
summitbay4:17PMMay 22nd 2008
We, patriotic citizens of the United States of America have legitimate reason to take Barrak HUSSEIN Obama off the ballot and kick his ass out of Congress for his illegal association with subversive anti-American radicals, terrorists like Ayers, Farrakhan, Jeremiah, Raczko etc...
USA CONSTITUTION
Amendment 14 - Citizenship Rights
3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Phil6:13PMMay 22nd 2008
From a democrat to Bush...THANK YOU! This farm Bill is nothing but a big give away of taxpayers' money..Congress is raping and pillaging taxpayer money and the future of our government while Bush is doing the same in Iraq! What's worse?
Matt6:28PMMay 22nd 2008
Well, those Democratic champions of Marxism are at it again. Now they want to pass a bill that gets the government even more involved in agriculture. Why do wealthy farming conglomerates need more Federal funding? I live in an area completely dominated by farmers. These guys own 300 acre farms, drive brand new $40,000 trucks, and have even better and more expensive tractors, and combines. Yet, when it's time to milk money from the government these plantation aristocrats always claim they are broke. GIVE ME A BREAK!!! These modern farmers do not need any more of our tax dollars. The only reason the Democrats want to increase farm subsidies is to further accomplish their mission of socializing every realm of business in America. Throughout the previous century, Communist revolutions have usually enjoyed their greatest initial success among farmers. Today's liberals are attempting to recreate that success in our country. When will the left learn from history? When will they finally wake up, and realize that BIG GOVERNMENT LEADS TO BIG BREAD LINES? Just look at the Democrat's favorite country, the Soviet Union.
Marj6:52PMMay 22nd 2008
Everyones says the oil companies are the ones to blame for these high prices, when it really is not so.
Our wonderful democratic senators have not allowedour country to drill for years due to the left wing enviromentalists screaming and crying. So now we are left dependent on foreign oil. I just read about a man who hit oil in Indiana in his backyard. He's going to start selling it! What does that tell you?
As far as this Farm Bill, Obama voted for it. when it is FULL OF SPECIAL INTERESTS THE VERY THING THAT OBAMA SAID HE WOULD NOT DO!! WOW, SURPRISE, SURPRISE!
The American people are stupid. Not by choice...it just happens when we have to work everyday and can't fully research things to have a full understanding of what is REALLY GOING ON!
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summitbay5:29PMMay 21st 2008
Imagine,
Obama having tea with Iran President Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad? here is what the conversation would look like:
"Mahmud, have some tea, lets talk about you throwing bombs at Israel. I personally don't mind, as long as you throw little bombs not big ones. We can run it by Farrakhan and Jeremiah, see what they think"
And Ahmadi-Nejad would say "we are brothers, and we seek cooperation - we mean no harm, (takes a sip of tea to help the next few words come out of his throat) "we are friends of Israel" and he would almost choke on the words. Obama would say, "good, good, we have a lot in common, we are looking forward to joint cooperation in the future. More tea Mahmud?"
Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad would then return to his hotel room and high-five his muslim terrorist friends, joyful of his extreme good luck, celebrating the dumb-ass victory over the patsy he has just placated. They would roll on the floor in hillarious laughter"
the end.