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Congress enacts most of farm bill over Bush vetoWASHINGTON--Congress enacted a massive election-year farm bill May 22 over President Bush's veto, sending new and bigger subsidies for farmers and more food stamps to help the poor with rising grocery prices. The 82 to 13 vote in the Senate following a 316 to 108 vote May 21 night in the House provided Democrats only their second veto override in Bush's presidency. However not all of the bill that Congress passed in mid-May is becoming law immediately. Due to a printing glitch, the version that Bush vetoed was missing 34 pages on international food aid and trade--a mistake that may require Congress to send the White House yet another bill. The president claimed the legislation was too expensive and too generous with subsidies for farmers who are already enjoying record high prices and incomes. The $290 billion bill increases food stamps by $1 billion a year. It also increases subsidies for some crops and for the first time subsidizes growers of fresh fruits and vegetables. The printing error turned a triumphant political victory into a vexing embarrassment for Democrats. The party's leaders in the House decided to pass the bill again, including the missing section in the version that Bush got. That vote was 306 to 110, again enough to override another veto from Bush should the need arise. Democratic leadership aides said the Senate will deal with the problem when Congress returns in June from a one-week vacation. 5/26/08 Date: 5/22/08
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