Pork Does Farm Bill Little Good: UPDATE: House Overrides Veto

President Bush vetoed the latest iteration of the farm bill, HR 2419. Congress may attempt an override of the veto. That's just lovely, since the bill is pork ridden in the worst way. President Bush gets this right:

At a time when net farm income is projected to increase by more than $28 billion in 1 year, the American taxpayer should not be forced to subsidize that group of farmers who have adjusted gross incomes of up to $1.5 million. When commodity prices are at record highs, it is irresponsible to increase government subsidy rates for 15 crops, subsidize additional crops, and provide payments that further distort markets. Instead of better targeting farm programs, this bill eliminates the existing payment limit on marketing loan subsidies.

Now is also not the time to create a new uncapped revenue guarantee that could cost billions of dollars more than advertised. This is on top of a farm bill that is anticipated to cost more than $600 billion over 10 years. In addition, this bill would force many businesses to prepay their taxes in order to finance the additional spending.

This legislation is also filled with earmarks and other ill-considered provisions. Most notably, H.R. 2419 provides: $175 million to address water issues for desert lakes; $250 million for a 400,000-acre land purchase from a private owner; funding and authority for the noncompetitive sale of National Forest land to a ski resort; and $382 million earmarked for a specific watershed. These earmarks, and the expansion of Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage requirements, have no place in the farm bill. Rural and urban Americans alike are frustrated with excessive government spending and the funneling of taxpayer funds for pet projects. This bill will only add to that frustration.

The bill also contains a wide range of other objectionable provisions, including one that restricts our ability to redirect food aid dollars for emergency use at a time of great need globally. The bill does not include the requested authority to buy food in the developing world to save lives. Additionally, provisions in the bill raise serious constitutional concerns. For all the reasons outlined above, I must veto H.R. 2419, and I urge the Congress to extend current law for a year or more.

The reason that Congress has such low ratings in the polls (lower than even President Bush) is because they simply can't help themselves to the public trough. They're addicted to pork, and this bill is not only full of pork, but it's anti-trade and will increase the costs to consumers because of restrictive policies and subsidies.

And if the GOP doesn't start to wake up and realize this, they will suffer for it at the polls come November. Democrats clearly have no interest in limiting spending here, but the GOP does. It's time for them to start practicing what they preach about fiscal responsibility.

UPDATE:
As expected, the House voted to override the President's veto. Here's the roll call on that vote. 100 Republicans voted to override the President's veto, along with 216 Democrats. 94 Republicans voted against the override, as did 16 Democrats.

It now heads to the Senate, where they too are expected to override the President's veto.

UPDATE:
If the GOP needs yet another wakeup call, this is it. Voting for this piece of pork laden excess is only reinforcing the view that they cannot exercise the slightest bit of restraint. This will have an effect in November.