House Debates Farm Bill CAPITOL HILL (Associated Press) -


The House today takes up a broad, five-year farm bill that would extend agriculture and nutrition programs.

Democratic leaders hope to pass it before the August recess, but it won't be easy, with the bill facing opposition from both sides of the aisle.

Some Republicans are against a last-minute proposal to tax certain foreign-owned companies that have U-S subsidiaries. Those taxes would pay for four billion dollars in food stamps and other nutrition programs.

Some Democrats are upset that the farm bill keeps existing subsidies for major crops and even increases some of them. They also say it does too little for environmental and nutrition programs.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supports the bill, calling it a "critical first step for reform."

The current farm bill expires September 30th.

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