Lawmakers finish farm bill as White House repeats opposition
By MARY CLARE JALONICK
Associated Press
May 9, 2008
Page 2 of 2
In recent days, congressional negotiators have come closer to the White House in terms of how much money would be paid to wealthy farmers, one of the biggest sticking points with the Bush administration.
The bill would eliminate some government payments to individuals who make more than $750,000 -- or married farmers who make more than $1.5 million -- in farm income annually.
Individuals who make more than $500,000, or couples who make more than $1 million jointly, in non-farm income would also be ineligible for subsidies.
Under current law, there is no income limit for farmers, and married couples who make less than one-fourth of their income from farming will not receive subsidies if their joint income exceeds $5 million.
The Bush administration originally proposed a new cap for those who make more than $200,000 in annual gross income, but has indicated it could accept a limit of $500,000. As of last week, negotiators were considering a $950,000 income cap on farm income.
Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., said members were meeting Thursday to coordinate a House override strategy.
Herseth Sandlin said she is optimistic that the chamber would approve the bill if Bush vetoes it. But House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio signaled Thursday that he would vote against the bill.
''I think, in a time of high commodity prices, to be raising loan limits and target prices just really flies in the face of reality,'' he said.
Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican from the farm state of Nebraska, also criticized the bill.
''The loopholes are still there,'' Hagel said. ''It's larded down with pork. It's just a bad bill.''
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Associated Press writers Ben Evans and Andrew Taylor in Washington and Nelson Lampe in Omaha contributed to this report.
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