US president Bush vetoes Farm Bill

Bush’s veto may not have much impact as it is likely to be overridden. It passed the House of Representatives as well as the Senate with veto-proof majorities.

A White House spokesman said that president Bush rejected it because it increases federal spending. About 2/3 of the bill would pay for nutrition programmes such as food stamps and emergency food aid for the needy.

An additional $40 bln is for farm subsidies while almost $30 bln would go to farmers to idle their land and to other environmental programmes.