As expected, President Bush has vetoed the $300 billion 'Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008' on Wednesday. The White House called the farm bill proposal a tax increase on regular Americans at a time of high food prices but record farm profits.
"This farm bill gives away too much money to wealthy farmers at the expense of taxpayers who foot the bill for the subsidies," Bush noted.
Today's move was the 10th veto of his presidency. It will likely to be overridden by Congress, which passed the measure with veto-proof majorities last week. To carry out an override, each chamber must call a new vote and pass the bill by a two-thirds majority.
The five-year bill would boost nutrition, land stewardship and biofuels programs. The omnibus farm bill is nearly eight months overdue.
Meanwhile, the National Farmers Union led a broad coalition of 1054 organizations today calling on Congress to override the president's farm bill veto.
"There is widespread support for the farm bill, both across this great nation and in Congress as we saw in last week's super-majority votes," NFU President Tom Buis said. "While it is disappointing to see the president's veto, we are hopeful members of Congress will listen to their constituents and override this veto."
Today's 1054-group coalition far surpasses the record 557 groups that called on Congress to pass the farm bill last week. The coalition represents farm, conservation, commodity, specialty crop, nutrition, anti-hunger and consumer groups, cooperatives, religious organizations and others that represent millions across the country.
"This farm bill gives away too much money to wealthy farmers at the expense of taxpayers who foot the bill for the subsidies," Bush noted.
Today's move was the 10th veto of his presidency. It will likely to be overridden by Congress, which passed the measure with veto-proof majorities last week. To carry out an override, each chamber must call a new vote and pass the bill by a two-thirds majority.
The five-year bill would boost nutrition, land stewardship and biofuels programs. The omnibus farm bill is nearly eight months overdue.
Meanwhile, the National Farmers Union led a broad coalition of 1054 organizations today calling on Congress to override the president's farm bill veto.
"There is widespread support for the farm bill, both across this great nation and in Congress as we saw in last week's super-majority votes," NFU President Tom Buis said. "While it is disappointing to see the president's veto, we are hopeful members of Congress will listen to their constituents and override this veto."
Today's 1054-group coalition far surpasses the record 557 groups that called on Congress to pass the farm bill last week. The coalition represents farm, conservation, commodity, specialty crop, nutrition, anti-hunger and consumer groups, cooperatives, religious organizations and others that represent millions across the country.