CONGRESS WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD ON THE FARM BILL AS IT OVERRIDES PRESIDENT'S VETO, DORGAN SAYS
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
CONTACT: Justin Kitsch
or Brenden Timpe
PHONE: 202-224-2551
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) said Wednesday he was disappointed but not surprised by the President’s veto of the new farm bill.
“The President came to North Dakota early in his presidency to tell family farmers he’d be there when they needed him. But it turns out that was just talk,” Dorgan said. “He has fought against the interests of rural America time and time again. He fought against disaster aid, he fought against country-of-origin labeling, and now he’s taking one last stand against the family farmers by vetoing the farm bill.
“Fortunately, our farm bill passed the House and Senate by wide margins and I’m confident we’ll override his veto this week. That override will be welcome news to farmers who’ve been waiting for this new farm program.
“Month after month, President Bush has been working to derail it. But the good news is, this is a good farm bill that will give producers some real help when they need it most.”
Among the bill’s provisions that are important to North Dakota are:
• Re-establishment of a permanent disaster aid program
• Increased target prices and loan rates for key North Dakota crops
• Mandatory country-of-origin labeling for meat by September 30, 2008
• Ensures payments to retired and disabled farmers for CRP land is treated as rental payments, not self-employment income, by the IRS
• Strong investment in biofuels and other renewable energy sources
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