White House pledges veto of GOP farm bill

David Jackson | USA TODAY

House Republicans are scheduled to vote on their own farm bill Thursday, but the White House has already threatened a veto.

The Democrat-run Senate is also unlikely to pass the House Republican farm bill that would expand a crop insurance program, but does not include food stamps for the poor.

The bill "fails to reauthorize nutrition programs, which benefit millions of Americans -- in rural, suburban and urban areas alike," said a veto message from President Obama's budget office. "The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a cornerstone of our nation's food assistance safety net, and should not be left behind as the rest of the Farm Bill advances."

The Obama administration statement also said the Republican bill "does not contain sufficient commodity and crop insurance reforms and does not invest in renewable energy, an important source of jobs and economic growth in rural communities across the country."

From Reuters:

"The farm subsidy bill was unveiled late Wednesday by House Republican leaders, who were embarrassed by the defeat last month of a $500 billion, five-year farm bill that included the largest cuts in food stamps in a generation.

"Fiscally conservative Republicans wanted more cuts in farm program and food stamp spending. Leaders said no amendments would be allowed to the new bill, which they hoped to pass before adjourning for the week on Thursday.

"Traditionally, farm bills are enacted by a partnership of rural lawmakers interested in agricultural programs and urban supporters of food stamps and other public nutrition programs."