HOUSE PASSES VETO-PROOF 
FARM BILL

 

     Members of the U.S. House approved the Farm Bill conference report yesterday by an overwhelming majority. The 318 votes in favor of the bill are well above the 286 required to override a veto promised by President Bush.

     Congressmen Jerry Moran and Todd Tiahrt voted against the new Farm Bill. Kansas Reps. Nancy Boyda and Dennis Moore voted for the bill. Moran cited a reduction in direct payments and crop insurance as reasons for his opposition. He also disagreed with provisions in the bill that funded everything from salmon recovery in California to purchasing land from a large timber company in Montana .

     “I cannot put my stamp of approval on a bill I know fails to meet the needs of Kansas farmers and poorly spends taxpayer dollars,” said Moran.

     The U.S. Senate initiated debate on the Farm Bill conference report last night. A vote in the Senate is expected today.

     Specific Farm Bill conference report language pertinent to beef producers would reduce the burden mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) will have on ranchers, feeders and others in the industry. KLA and NCBA fought to m