Bush vetoes farm bill, Congress may override [View All]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush vetoed the $289 billion U.S. farm bill on Wednesday despite the likelihood of a congressional override, saying the bill subsidizes multimillionaire farmers while Americans face higher grocery prices.

The bill would expand nutrition programs by $10.3 billion over 10 years, mostly to help poor Americans buy food. It encourages land stewardship and biofuels development.

Leaders of the House of Representatives and Senate Agriculture committees say they have the votes to override the veto, the 10th issued by Bush, yet this week. More than half of Republicans in the House and Senate voted for the farm bill last week.

A two-thirds majority of each chamber is needed in a vote to override a veto. A House vote was possible later on Wednesday, said staff workers. The House passed the farm bill by a 3-to-1 margin and the Senate by 4 to 1.



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