From Deseret News archives:
House OKs farmer-subsidy bill
The bill passed, 231-191, with 19 Republicans joining 212 Democrats in favor, after a morning of rancorous debate and some hooting and howling that focused not on agriculture policy but on the tax provision inserted to pay for a $4 billion increase in food stamps.
Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, said he had to oppose what had been a commonsense bill that would have "ensured the viability of the family farmer for the next generation" because of the last-minute addition of a tax increase that "jeopardizes thousands of American jobs."
The bill also included provisions from Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, to overturn a more than 30-year-old ban on interstate shipment of state-inspected meat.
The provisions would give national and international consumers access to meat products produced by ranchers and smaller meat-packing plants in Utah and other states. Utah has 32 plants authorized to inspect meat.
The relatively swift passage of the $280 billion five-year bill was a victory for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who untangled a thicket of competing interests. Pelosi faced accusations from fellow Democrats that she abandoned her demands to reform the subsidies in favor of protecting potentially vulnerable freshman Democrats from rural districts.
Pelosi hailed the bill as historic for ending subsidy payments to farmers earning more than $1 million a year, creating support for fruit and vegetable growers, and for increasing money for nutrition, land conservation, and other programs like researching alternative fuels like cellulose-based ethanol.
"Future farm bills will never look the same as those of the past," she said on the House floor.
Democratic leaders scrambled down to the wire to shore up support as they braced for opposition to the tax provision. In last-minute amendments, the Democrats added more money for nutrition, including $840 million for an international food aid program sought by Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.
Comments
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week 11:03 a.m.
- Weiss new Tour of Utah director 10:54 a.m.
- Moguls skier Jeremy Bloom retires 10:51 a.m.
- Police probe synagogue vandalism 10:44 a.m.
- O'Connor's husband dies 10:36 a.m.
- Russia launches program for tigers 10:35 a.m.
- Veterans Day in Afghanistan 10:34 a.m.
- Drug industry presses FDA 10:31 a.m.
- Obama honors veterans 10:29 a.m.
- New dinosaur species found 10:21 a.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- Utah group finds homes for orphans
- Wyoming writer amazed by BYU
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- Hair-pulling raises more questions
- Y. tight ends talented tandem
- 4 Jazz players make All-Star ballot
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- House passes health care bill
268 - TCU showdown has big implications
188 - Lobo suspended
185 - Senators want food tax restored
156 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
106 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
105 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
98
Maybe someone out there can help me understand how raising the state...
Discrimination is something we all do (and should do) every day. When we go...
is genius. And the many of the poster hereon, provides the explanation. A...
To Anonymous @7:15 a.m., If you want to be free to rent your property only to...
And how is the Constitution to grow? I think the framers thought it would be...
If demand is there then what's the problem? If the state offers early...
Who cares, just want to see the big boys play, not the little leagues. You...
JD is "that good" or they wouldn't be in the game. I assume Wasatch is also...
sounds like a great recruit, Now let's see what BYU will do with him, I'll...
Read the article. What does BYU's year of mediocrity have to do with...
This is ridiculous. Why are we rehiring people into their same positions...


You can be the first to comment on this story.