The U.S. Senate today approved a 286-billion dollar farm bill shepherded through by Iowan Tom Harkin, the chair of the Senate Ag Committee. Harkin spoke about the bill via cellphone on the way to the airport to return to Iowa.
"I couldn’t be prouder, this is a great Christmas present," Harkin says. Harkin says the 79 votes were the most for any farm bill since 1973, before Harkin came to Congress. The Democrat says it has not been easy to craft the bill, which has been under the threat of a veto by President Bush.
Harkin says it has been "a long tough slog", but says it is a good bill that contains things for those interested in nutrition, energy, specialty crops and is "very forward looking." The 79 votes for the bill in the Senate would be more than enough to overcome a veto.