Senate passes farm bill
The bill, which passed 79-14, would extend farm, conservation and nutrition programs for another five years.
The bill protects existing programs for grain and cotton growers while creating an optional new revenue-protection plan sought by corn growers. The bill also provides new spending for fruit and vegetable farms and land-conservation programs while increasing food stamp benefits.
The White House, however, has threatened to veto both the Senate bill and a version that passed the House this summer because of tax packages used to pay for increased spending.
The White House raised similar objections to an energy bill and forced congressional Democrats this week to jettison a planned tax increase on oil companies.
Congressional negotiators will have to come up with a compromise on the farm bill that Bush can accept or else risk a veto. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Ia., will be chairman of the House-Senate conference committee that will write the bill’s final version.
“Revenue items are tough to get through Congress in any shape, manner or form,” said Tom Buis, president of the National Farmers Union.
