After a recent failed attempt to get billions of dollars in aid to the nation’s farmers through the war spending bill, House appropriations leaders say they are considering keeping agricultural disaster relief separate next time around. According to the New York Times, Wisconsin Congressman Dave Obey, thinks that a separate farm disaster aid bill would be difficult to veto and would draw support from both sides of the aisle.
“I think it is going to be very hard for the president to explain why he has declared counties disaster areas and why he doesn’t support legislative action to keep those farmers from being driven off the farm and out of business if he vetoes a farm disaster aid bill,” said Obey, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee.
News reports say a new domestic aid bill, which includes $3.5 billion in farm disaster aid, may come up for vote on Friday.
The last farm aid package included funding for emergency ag disasters, Milk Income Loss Compensation program, drought aid and other domestic spending. President Bush vetoed the measure because it was attached to a troop withdrawal bill.