American Agri-Women

President Bush makes personal farm bill veto threat

Wednesday, February 6, 2008, 2:51 PM

by Peter Shinn

President Bush used the ceremonial swearing-in of new U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer to give a substantive address on key agricultural issues. And the President also issued a very blunt message to the leading members of Congress who are working on the new farm bill.

But President Bush started with the basics. He expressed support for the concept of American food self-sufficiency.

"It makes a lot of sense to make sure that we can grow our own food," said Mr. Bush. "It's in our national security interests that we're self-sufficient in food."

President Bush also noted the robust state of the agricultural economy. He claimed the "best way" to continue growth in the sector is by expanding ag exports and vowed to pursue pending bi-lateral and global trade deals, as well as succeed in regaining lost market access for American beef.

"So Ed's going to join with other members of my administration to work to pass free trade agreements with Colombia and Panama and South Korea," the President declared. "We will support a successful conclusion to the Doha Round of trade talks," he added. "Ed and I are going to work tirelessly to open-up foreign markets for U.S. beef."

President Bush didn't specifically mention ethanol or biodiesel in his most recent State of the Union Address. But he rectified that oversight in his remarks Wednesday.

"We recognize that farmers also have the potential to help our nation solve one of the greatest challenges, and that is our dependence on foreign oil," President Bush said. "I'd much rather our farmers be growing energy than trying to buy it from other parts of the world, so we will continue to work on - for renewable fuels, including a new generation of ethanol and biodiesel."

It was only at the end of his remarks that President Bush brought up the farm bill. With Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, Ranking Senate Agriculture Committee Republican Saxby Chambliss and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson looking on from the audience at USDA headquarters, the President gave an explicit warning about the pending farm legislation, even as he expressed belief a deal could be struck.

"It's critical for farmers and consumers to have a good farm bill in place, so Ed's going to work with members of both parties on a bill that spends people's money wisely, doesn't raise taxes, reforms and tightens subsidy payments - a farm bill that'll benefit the entire economy," President Bush emphasized. "I'm confident we can come together to get a good farm bill, but if Congress sends me legislation that raises taxes or not make needed reforms I'm going to veto it."

Schafer, after he was sworn in, credited President Bush for reinvigorating the farm economy since taking office in 2001. Schafer also vowed fealty to the farm bill principles outlined by the President, and promised that USDA would be able to effectively administrate whatever farm measure ultimately makes it into law.

"As we put together a strong finish to put the farm bill in place," Schafer said, "I am confident that USDA has the resources, the people, the capabilities to implement this extremely important piece of legislation to the United States."

Congressional reaction the President's veto threat was swift, and negative. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin issued a statement shortly after Schafer's swearing-in ceremony condemning the divisive nature of President Bush's farm bill comments.

"For President Bush to continue to take a hard line and threaten to veto a farm bill is unproductive and against the bipartisan spirit that made this bill a reality and that carried it through the Senate with one of the largest votes in the history of farm bills," the Harkin statement said. "This measure is critical for our farming families and rural communities in Iowa and across this country, so I urge the president to back away from this position and instead work with farm bill negotiators to come up with a bill he can sign," the statement continued. "The Senate farm bill is a good, strong measure that balances spending with revenues raised by closing tax loopholes and ending tax abuses – not by raising taxes – as the President has suggested."