U.S. Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller, both D-W.Va., helped pass the Food and Energy Security Act on an 81-15 vote.
The $290 billion farm bill "will increase food aid for the needy as well as subsidies for farmers enjoying record high incomes," The Associated Press reports.
"Rising food costs put political pressure on lawmakers to boost money for food stamps and other nutrition programs," the article said. "The bill's fate appeared bleak until House Speaker Nancy Pelosi intervened and forced farm-state negotiators to divert money from farm subsidies to food programs."
The state's House delegation, Reps. Alan Mollohan, D-1st, Shelley Moore Capito, R-2nd, and Nick Rahall, D-3rd, had all helped pass the measure in that chamber Wednesday, 318-106.
President Bush has threatened to veto the measure, but AP notes it garnered enough support for an override in both the House and Senate.
16 May 2008
They Voted For You: Farm Bill
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1 comment:
Pander, pander, pander. If food prices are up because of high prices of farm products (as they are), why do we need more farm subsidies? This problem is largely caused by existing federal subsidies and mandates to conver our food into fuel (ethanol).
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