NEBRASKA /A.P. NEWS
HOUSE PASSES FARM BILL
By John Axtell
May 14, 2008 - 7:58:13 PM

The House Wednesday finally passed a compromise version of the new Farm Bill, sending it on to the Senate. It passed with despite a promised veto from President Bush with a veto-proof 318-106 margin.

3rd District Congressman Adrian Smith is pleased with the passage, but frustrated it's taken so long...2-1/2 years since the first House Ag Committee hearing and almost a year since the House passed its version.

Smith says many key provisions have been moving targets in a three-way tug-of-war between the White House, the House, and the Senate...allowing partisan politics to bring the process "nearly screeching to a halt"and requiring 5 short term extensions. The latest expires Friday.

Still, he's pleased with many of the provisions including a first-ever permanent ag disaster relief package of $3.8-billion dollars.

Smith also likes a 2-year extension of the tariff on imported ethanol, a continuation of the ethanol blenders credit...even though it will trimmed 6-cents...retention of Country of Origin Labeling requirements, and a loan repayment program for food animal veterinarians in rural areas.

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