Bush threatens to veto farm bill

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns on Wednesday told reporters he would recommend that the president veto the House farm bill if it is approved by Congress.

Johanns said President Bush’s entire team of advisers would recommend that he veto the House bill if it is approved because it did not do enough to reform federal farm policy and would continue to allow the wealthy to receive farm subsidies.

{mosads}He also singled out for criticism a tax provision that Democrats are considering for use as an offset for $4 billion in additional funding for nutrition programs.

“I find it unacceptable to raise taxes to pay for a farm bill that includes virtually no reforms,” Johanns said.

The bill was unanimously approved by the House Agriculture Committee last week and is expected to be debated on the floor Thursday.

Bush did not veto a 2002 farm bill approved by a Republican Congress that was widely criticized by religious organizations, government watchdogs and charitable groups. Most of these groups have said the bill approved by the agriculture committee last week essentially maintains the status quo of the 2002 bill.

Johanns today said the administration proposed meaningful reforms for farm policy earlier this year but retained the basic structure of the 2002 farm bill.