Bush unveils farm policy

Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush outlined his farm policyagenda this afternoon in rural Dallas County. Bush stood in front of a John Deere combine on a century farm near DallasCenter to propose “simple and direct” solutions to farm problems. Bushproposed allowing farmers to establish a “rainy day,” tax-deferred savingsaccount to meet expenses during income depressions. Bush called for reformof federal crop insurance.The Texas Governor promised to phase out the estate tax for farms and upholdthe property rights of farmers. In addition to a renewed call for “fasttrack” trade negotiating authority for the President, Bush said he wouldpush governments around the globe to completely eliminate ag exportsubsidies and tariffs.Bush called farming the heart of the American economy.As for the short-term ag crisis, Bush has called for immediate cash paymentsfor farmers.