Lawmakers override Bush veto of farm bill

Published: 2008-05-22

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Not long after President George W. Bush vetoed the farm bill May 21, the House overrode his veto by a 3-to-1 margin. But, unbeknownst to House leaders at the time, about 24 pages of the legislation were not included in the version of the bill delivered to the White House. After the mistake came to light, the House and the Senate voted May 22 to pass it again with veto-proof majorities. Known officially as the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, the bill is the principal piece of farm legislation to be considered by Congress every six years, although even the farm provisions of the bill are now overshadowed by food stamps and other nutrition provisions. Farm and rural provisions account for less than one-fourth of the $300 billion bill, while nutrition programs, including food stamps, account for two-thirds. The rest of the bill includes such items as conservation programs and renewable energy programs, including biofuels production. Rural life advocates, including the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, lost their bid in Congress to sharply reduce the crop subsidy limits given to farmers, with the wealthiest farmers getting the lion's share of the subsidies.

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