Mix-up on House override of farm bill

President says bill subsidizes rich farmers while food prices rise

The Associated Press
updated 10:14 p.m. CT, Wed., May. 21, 2008

WASHINGTON - The House overwhelmingly rejected President Bush's veto Wednesday of a $290 billion farm bill...

Only hours before the House's 316-108 vote, Bush had vetoed the five-year measure, saying it was too expensive and gave too much money to wealthy farmers when farm incomes are high.

The Senate then was expected to follow suit quickly. [and override the veto]

Action stalled, however, after the discovery that Congress had omitted a 34-page section of the bill when lawmakers sent the massive measure to the White House.

That means Bush vetoed a different bill from the one Congress passed. ...

[So if Congress overrides a veto of a bill that was never passed by Congress does the vetoed bill become law?]

Democrats hoped to pass the entire bill, again, on Thursday under expedited rules usually reserved for unopposed legislation. The correct version would then be sent to Bush for another expected veto. [which will require another override if there is to be any form of Farm Bill.]

Lawmakers also probably will have to pass an extension of current farm law, which expires Friday. [But Bush could veto it too?]

"We will have to repass the whole thing, as will the Senate," said Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y. "We can't let the farm bill just die."

[A separate article reports that a Senate Committee has agreed on a "compromise" bill to give Bush $195 Billion to continue the "war in Iraq" with "no strings attached" but the compromise cuts out improvements in military pay, increased veteran education benefits, support for local disaster teams and "a few other public benefits" due to a Bush threat to veto the previous versions because "people might object to having their taxes raised" to pay for anything but the war.]

[That report states that full passage of the "compromise" may be delayed because the House will be taking a week or two off on vacation by the time it gets out of committee.]

[Where do the rest of us get some of what the people in DC are sniffing?]

John