Congress says can override Bush farm bill veto

By Charles Abbott

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate gave final congressional approval on Thursday to a $289 billion farm bill that expands programs to help feed poor Americans, and lawmakers said Congress could easily override a presidential veto.

President (George W.) Bush on Tuesday promised to veto the bill on grounds it subsidizes multimillionaire farmers while Americans face higher food prices. The White House says the bill has $10 billion in hidden spending and rather than embrace reform, increases subsidy rates for wheat and soybeans.

"I urge the president to skip the veto," said Montana Democrat Max Baucus.

Senate Agriculture Committee chairman Tom Harkin said the override could be completed by the end of next week.

Two-thirds of farm bill spending would go to public nutrition programs. Ten million people would benefit from changes in the food-stamp program. An additional $125 million a year would be spent on donations to food pantries.

All told, $10.3 billion would be added to nutrition programs over 10 years, including $7.9 billion for food stamps. With food prices forecast to rise by 4.5 percent this year, lawmakers said the farm bill would bring a sweeping expansion of food programs.

"We have tremendous help in this bill for those families," said Sen. Robert Casey, Pennsylvania Democrat, referring to food-stamp participants. Nearly 28 million people receive food stamps each month.

Senators passed the bill by a veto-proof margin of 81-15. The House passed the bill, 318-106, on Wednesday. To override a veto, each chamber must call a new vote and pass the bill by a two-thirds majority.