    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [April 22, 2008]
    [Pages 561-562]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Farm Legislation
    April 22, 2008

        I am disappointed that Congress has failed to put forward a good
    farm bill, leaving farmers and ranchers in a state of continued
    uncertainty as to how they will be affected by Federal policies.
        The farm bill proposal currently being discussed by conferees would
    fail several important tests that I have set forth. With record farm
    income, now is not the timefor Congress to ask other sectors of the
    economy to pay higher taxes in order to increase the size of Government.
    The proposal would increase spending by at least $16 billion, masked in
    part by budgetary gimmicks and funded in part by additional tax
    revenues. These tax revenue provisions are unacceptable, including tax
    compliance initiatives being considered by the House

    [[Page 562]]

    and Senate conference committee. As important, the proposal also lacks
    the important reforms I've repeatedly called for.
        After last week's short-term extension of the farm bill, Congress
    now has only 4 days to provide certainty to America's farmers and
    ranchers. Despite the passage of more than a year since my
    administration unveiled a responsible and forward-looking farm bill
    proposal, there are no signs that the conference committee will reach
    agreement on an acceptable farm bill by Friday. I therefore call on
    Congress to provide our agricultural producers with the certainty to
    make sound business and planting decisions about this year's crop by
    extending current law for at least 1 year.