May 8th 2008, 08:01

Agreement on the 2007 Farm Bill Still Uncertain

Although the 2007 Farm Bill was designed to make notable improvements in the U.S. agricultural industry, bipartisan farm-state negotiators have been unable to move the White House towards signing the bill into a definite, rock-hard law. But why should something that proposes to strengthen rural economies and make farmers' lives better encounter such great opposition from President Bush?

According to the White House, the bill's $300-billion budget has been a key factor in the President's unwillingness to approve what he thinks is a "bloated" price tag. Negotiations have also stalled at one problematic component of the bill, which names the amount of government subsidies for richer farmers.

"But members of Congress have continued to work on it, and if they can get there, the president would sign it," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. "But it seems unlikely, and therefore the president would call on them to pass a one-year extension if they can't get to a point where they would pass a bill that he could sign."

Presently, negotiators are thinking of shaving off some government payments to farmers who earn more than $750,000 a year, which is still much higher than the $500,000 ceiling that the White House has insisted on. According to Senate Agricultural Committee chairman Tom Harkin, however, Bush seems bent on "destroying the harvest just as the seeds are being planted."

"The White House continues to issue presidential veto threats as farmers plant crops and Congress puts the final touches on a farm bill with strong new initiatives for our nation in agriculture, food, conservation, energy and rural development," he lamented. -AP

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