Mitchell Votes to Sustain Farm Bill Veto

Press Release

Congressman Says Federal Government Must Cut Wasteful Spending

U.S. Rep. Harry E. Mitchell today voted to uphold President George W. Bush's veto of a $658 billion farm bill that would continue more than $50 billion in direct payments to corporate farmers. Under the conference report on H.R. 2419, 60 percent of those direct payments go to the wealthiest 10 percent of corporate farmers.

Despite Mitchell's vote against the wasteful spending measure, the House overrode the President's veto with a 317-109 vote.

"The Farm Bill gave resources to multimillionaire farmers, and lacks discipline in a time of financial hardship." Mitchell said. "We ought to encourage competition in the agricultural industry, and the Farm Bill does not advance that priority."

Mitchell supported the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment to the Farm Bill, which was offered by U.S. Reps. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Ron Kind of Wisconsin. The Kind-Flake Amendment would have made significant cuts to the subsidies and invested in conservation efforts, nutrition programs and deficit reduction. Despite Mitchell's "no" vote, the measure passed 318 to 106 back in May.

Many organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Americans for Tax Reform, Citizens against Government Waste, Taxpayers for Common Sense, Defenders of Wildlife and the National Wildlife Federation joined Mitchell in opposition to the conference report.

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