House Overrides Bush Farm Bill Veto
- Original cbs4denver.com article: House Overrides Bush Farm Bill Veto
The House has overridden President Bush's veto of a $290 billion farm bill and senators soon may follow suit.
It was only hours before the House's 316-108 vote Wednesday that Bush had vetoed the five-year measure. He said 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 is expected to begin consideration of the bill Thursday. There are expected to be enough votes to reject the veto.
The veto was the 10th of Bush's presidency. Congress has overridden him once, on a water projects bill.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said lawmakers should think twice before overriding the veto.
"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."
The bill approved earlier this month includes increased subsidies for farmers and food stamps for the poor. With grocery prices going up dramatically, the measure also was sprinkled with pet projects that lawmakers can take home to voters this election year.
Perino said the bill is $20 billion over the current baseline - "way too much to ask taxpayers right now."
"This bill is bloated," she said. "When grocery bills are on the rise, Congress is asking families to pay more in subsidies to wealthy farmers at a time of record farm profits."
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