Starting to realize what an ALBATROSS this guy is, aren't you, shitting-in-your-pants Repuglicans?!
Also see: Obama is a Winner!
"House OK's $290b bill raising farmer subsidies, food stamps"
WASHINGTON - By a strong, veto-proof majority, the House yesterday passed a $290 billion farm bill that increases subsidies for farmers and food stamps for the poor amid rising grocery prices while sprinkling in pet projects that lawmakers can take home to voters this election year.
The 318-to-106 vote for the five-year bill gave supporters 28 more than they need to override a promised veto from President Bush, who has complained the measure is too expensive and generous to farmers now enjoying record earnings....
How galling to have to agree with Bush (see lower items in post).
The Senate was to vote on the bill today. Rejecting a Bush veto would be even easier in the Senate because farm states have greater representation than they do in the House. Congress has overridden only one veto, on a water projects bill, during Bush's two terms....
Bush was abandoned by 100 GOP lawmakers one day after the party lost its third straight special election this year for filling House vacancies. All three districts - one each in Illinois, Louisiana, and Mississippi - include rural farm areas and now have Democrats in seats long held by Republicans.
Some Republicans criticized the mostly bipartisan and popular bill because a few home-state pet causes, including tax breaks for Kentucky racehorse owners...."
I saw that, and the first thing I thought was "Mitch McConnell!"
"The tax package includes several elements sought by powerful lawmakers, including a tax break for race horse owners important to Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Senate minority leader."
What a WASTE of YOUR MONEY, huh, readers?
Not convinced?
Then see this:
"WASHINGTON (AP) — A five-year farm bill in Congress this week does little to address the growing global food crisis. Instead, it diverts money that could be spent feeding poor children abroad to give more subsidies for U.S. farmers now enjoying record high crop prices and incomes....
President Bush has promised to veto it.... Bush contends it's too expensive and too generous to wealthy U.S. farmers....
Oh, the stench of having to agree with Bush!!!
International aid groups have long criticized U.S. farm bills for ignoring the plight of farmers in developing countries by making them compete with wealthy, taxpayer-subsidized American growers. By maintaining the bulk of direct payments — billions of dollars in subsidies that are distributed to farmers no matter how much they grow — and other subsidies in this bill, lawmakers failed to help the poor, the groups say.
"The pigs at the trough continued to promote generous handouts from taxpayers ... even as agriculture markets are so strong and our economy so weak," said Raymond C. Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America, an international aid group."Still not convinced?
Then also read: Ron Paul Revolution Excerpts: Economic Freedom
