White House Takes Dig at Farm Legislation

The Bush administration said Wednesday it could not support a $170-billion, 10-year farm bill on the House floor because it was too costly and was unresponsive to major changes taking place in the nation’s agricultural sector.

The White House broadside, an unusually blunt and sweeping critique of a piece of major legislation that enjoys considerable bipartisan support, came as the House took up the bill that adds $73.1 billion to current agricultural spending through 2011. Elated House reformers, who are seeking to shift as much as $19 billion of that increase to conservation and environmental programs, said the sudden development had greatly strengthened their hand.

A vote on the reform measure is set for today. GOP leaders, who described the conservation amendment as “devastating,” said if it passed, the overall farm bill would be pulled from the floor.

In a formal policy manifesto, the White House budget office said the legislation before the House fails to help farmers most in need, encourages overproduction of crops that are already in surplus, undermines efforts to reduce foreign agricultural subsidies and “boosts federal spending at a time of uncertainty.”

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) reacted angrily, saying that the Agriculture Department did not provide “one bit of input” during the writing of the bill despite his efforts to include the administration. The committee’s ranking Democrat, Rep. Charles W. Stenholm of Texas, also expressed dismay. “Where were they when we asked for recommendations on helping farmers in need?” he asked.

The measure on the floor would replace the 1996 Freedom to Farm Act, which expires next year. It would provide $12 billion more for conservation, wildlife and environmental programs through 2011 and also fund food safety, nutrition and rural development programs at expanded levels.

But growers of staple crops such as wheat, corn, cotton, rice, sugar and peanuts would still be the big winners, collecting $50 billion in additional payments over 10 years.