Johanns says House Ag Committee farm bill will be vetoed
Wednesday, July 25, 2007, 3:29 PM
by Tom Steever
The U.S. Agriculture Secretary made clear Wednesday that the Bush Administration does not like the farm bill as approved by the House Agriculture Committee.
“The official statement of policy makes it clear,” Mike Johanns told reporters Wednesday, “myself and the President’s entire team of senior advisors will recommend that he veto this bill.”
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) calls the Bush veto threat a failure to rural America.
“This Farm Bill is supported by a broad spectrum of agriculture, conservation, nutrition and renewable energy advocates,” Peterson said in a prepared statement. “(The bill) represents a carefully crafted compromise that includes substantial reforms and new investments in programs that matter, including fruit and vegetable production, nutrition programs, conservation and renewable energy. Our bill implements Country of Origin Labeling, improves food safety, and paves the way for energy independence while preserving the safety net that our farmers and ranchers need.”
Secretary Johanns says the measure as sent out of the committee is too pricey and will require tax increases to be implemented. He describes House Agriculture Committee loan rate and target price provisions as a step backward in farm policy and characterizes it as the most trade distorting amber box program under World Trade Organization obligations, which he says will subject the provisions to intense scrutiny.
“Planting decisions should be based on a free market demand,” said Johanns, “the loan rates that exceed market prices create an incentive to plant one crop over another regardless of market demand.”
On the other hand, says Johanns, administration farm bill proposals represent improvements to the 2002 farm bill that he says came out of the listening forums held around the country a couple of years ago.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007, 3:29 PM
by Tom Steever
The U.S. Agriculture Secretary made clear Wednesday that the Bush Administration does not like the farm bill as approved by the House Agriculture Committee.
“The official statement of policy makes it clear,” Mike Johanns told reporters Wednesday, “myself and the President’s entire team of senior advisors will recommend that he veto this bill.”
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) calls the Bush veto threat a failure to rural America.
“This Farm Bill is supported by a broad spectrum of agriculture, conservation, nutrition and renewable energy advocates,” Peterson said in a prepared statement. “(The bill) represents a carefully crafted compromise that includes substantial reforms and new investments in programs that matter, including fruit and vegetable production, nutrition programs, conservation and renewable energy. Our bill implements Country of Origin Labeling, improves food safety, and paves the way for energy independence while preserving the safety net that our farmers and ranchers need.”
Secretary Johanns says the measure as sent out of the committee is too pricey and will require tax increases to be implemented. He describes House Agriculture Committee loan rate and target price provisions as a step backward in farm policy and characterizes it as the most trade distorting amber box program under World Trade Organization obligations, which he says will subject the provisions to intense scrutiny.
“Planting decisions should be based on a free market demand,” said Johanns, “the loan rates that exceed market prices create an incentive to plant one crop over another regardless of market demand.”
On the other hand, says Johanns, administration farm bill proposals represent improvements to the 2002 farm bill that he says came out of the listening forums held around the country a couple of years ago.