The bill was passed by a strong veto proof majority and at the time of rising grocery prices while sprinkling in pet projects that lawmakers can take home to voters this election year. President Bush complains that the bill is too expensive and generous to farmers now enjoying record earnings.
It is found that nearly two-thirds of the bill would pay for nutrition programmes such as food stamps and emergency food aid for the needy. An additional $40 billion is for farm subsidies while almost $30 billion would go to farmers to idle their land and to other environmental programmes. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the measure “will drastically increase nutrition initiatives that will help 38 million American families put healthy food on their table.”
Some Republicans criticized the mostly bipartisan and popular bill. Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz complained that this bill has been under consideration for a long, long time, and yet still we have earmarks that have been ‘air dropped’ into the legislation. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer renewed Bush’s veto threat after the vote.
It is said that the legislation would make small cuts to direct payments, which are distributed to some farmers without any hesitation. The farm bill also would eliminate some federal payments to individuals with more than $750,000 in annual farm income – or married farmers who make more than $1.5 million. The administration originally proposed a cap for those who make more than $200,000 in annual gross income, but later indicated it could accept a limit of $500,000.
