Republicans abandon Bush on food, energy issues
By MARY CLARE JALONICK
Associated Press
May 16, 2008
Page 2 of 2
Bush has refused to halt the shipment of about 70,000 barrels of oil a day into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, saying it was such a small amount that it had no impact on gasoline or crude oil prices.
Lawmakers acknowledged in debate on the issue this week that suspending the deliveries into the stockpile was a small step in response to oil prices of nearly $125 a barrel and gasoline threatening to go to $4 a gallon.
Nevertheless, the Senate on Tuesday voted 97-1 to suspend the deliveries and the House followed hours later by a vote of 385-25. It's one of the few energy issues on which Democrats and Republicans have been able to agree.
The White House has indicated that Bush will sign the reserve measure, but he has remained more obstinate on the $290 billion farm legislation. He has said he will veto it, contending it is fiscally irresponsible and too generous to wealthy corporate farmers in a time of record crop prices.
About two-thirds of the bill would pay for domestic nutrition programs 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 programs.
Congress has overridden only one veto, on a water projects bill, during Bush's two terms.
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