Posted on 05/21/2008 10:22:56 AM PDT by SmithL
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush vetoed the $300 billion farm bill on Wednesday, calling it a tax increase on regular Americans at a time of high food prices in the face of a near-certain override by Congress.
It was the 10th veto of Bush's presidency. But since it passed both houses of Congress with veto-proof majorities, his action will likely be overridden.
The president believes the legislation is fiscally irresponsible and gives away too much money to wealthy farmers, yet his criticism rang hollow with lawmakers from both parties who voted for increased crop subsidies, food stamps for the poor and other goodies to help their districts in an election year.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said lawmakers should think twice before they override Bush's veto.
"Members are going to have to think about how they will explain these votes back in their districts at a time when prices are on the rise," she said. "People are not going to want to see their taxes increase."
Perino said the bill is $20 billion over the current baseline — "way too much to ask taxpayers right now."
"This bill is bloated," she said. "When grocery bills are on the rise, Congress is asking families to pay more in subsidies to wealthy farmers at a time of record farm profits."
In announcing Bush's veto, White House budget director Jim Nussle said Bush rejected it because it increases federal spending. He said Americans are frustrated with wasteful government spending and the funneling of taxpayer funds to pet projects. "This only worsens the frustration that they will feel," Nussle said, adding that Congress should extend the current farm bill.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Eight years to find the pen.
Oh no! Now BIG FARM is out for me!
It seems so long ago, when George sold himself as the conservative candidate of choice. Most of us bought it (myself included), but what a disappointment, fiscally speaking.
Six years.
When the veto override gets passed and neither gas or food prices lower President Bush can say, “I told you so”.
Class warfare from the President?
Life just keeps getting weirder.
He vetoed the stupid SCHIP bill as well. Better late than never, I guess.
Absolutely! Good job President Bush!
Wouldn’t this be the perfect opportunity for The Republican House Members to show us how serious they are about sticking to their new found Conservative Manifesto.
WHY DON”T THESE SPINELESS MORONS SUPPORT THIS VETO?
Nah... never happen!
From the article...
From the article: “ . . . almost $30 billion would go to farmers to idle their land . . . “
This is nonsensical to me.
Bash Bush, it’s the in thing.
All the cool kids are doing it. :P
An interesting phenomenon. A couple of years ago it was not uncommon to see sarcastic “Bush’s Fault” posts in response to the propencity of liberals to blame Bush for everything.
My how far FR has come. We are Devo.
yep........
BUMP!!
Class warfare from the President? Life just keeps getting weirder.
Your post is weird. Read the word "subsidies"...
READING COMPREHENSION? -- Get some!
Yeppers! One of the reasons I don't hang out here as much these days. I can go anywhere for the BDS take of the day.
The first veto wasn’t that long ago. It was the stem cell bill in 2006.
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