// BEGIN editorial data var i = 0; var Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill = new Array(); Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill.ID = "Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill"; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill.ID_WB = 24430805; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill.sPubDate = "6/18/2008 6:16:27 PM GMT"; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill.navsectionID = "3032071" Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill.appFmt = 2; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill.itemsPerPage = 1; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill.appWidth = 460; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill.appHeader = "Why it matters|The farm bill"; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill.appDeck = "It costs $300 billion, but besides the cost, why should you care?"; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill.appFooter = "Source: MSNBC, NBC News"; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill.appNavStyle = 3; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill.bDhtml = 0; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill.appLayout = 3; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill.copyHeight = 250; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill.copyWidth = 340; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill.copyMargin = 9; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i++] = new Array("","You should care because...","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/ArtAndPhoto-Fronts/POLITICS/GENERIC/FarmingTease_windmill.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Getty Images", "", "74", "98", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i-1].body = "
It affects the price you and your family pay for food and fuel, provides funds for food stamps and nutrition programs, encourages land conservation, and promotes efforts toward biofuel and renewable energy. Hungry people as far away as Pakistan and the Philippines depend on the productivity of American farmers."; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i++] = new Array("","What is it?","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/080505/080505-farm-43-12p.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Scott Olson", "Getty Images", "110", "147", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i-1].body = "
The current nearly $300-billion dollar bill began during the Great Depression, as part of a way to provide relief to America’s family farmers.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it is now a multi-year plan affecting everything from the cotton in your shirts to the pork chops on your plate. Nutritional support for low-income families, food safety standards, better crop yields - the farm bill covers them all."; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i++] = new Array("","At issue","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/061106/061106_2dollarbill_hmed_130p.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Hyungwon Kang", "Reuters", "98", "148", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i-1].body = "
In recent years the bill has been criticized for giving unnecessary subsidies to farmers. With farm incomes now at a record high, there have been calls from many to at least cut down on the subsidies, particularly to wealthy farmers and corporate farms."; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i++] = new Array("","The latest","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/ArtAndPhoto-Fronts/COVER/080410/msn-080410-bush-845a.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Ron Edmonds", "AP", "50", "60", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i-1].body = "
Click on the stories below to follow the latest developments on the farm bill.
• Bush vetoes farm bill, again
• Farm bill passed over Bush veto
• Mix-up in House override of Bush farm bill veto
• Congress passes farm bill, defying Bush
• Farm bill has little aid for children abroad
• Lawmakers finish farm bill compromise
• Why are food prices going up?
• McCain tells farmers he opposes subsidies
• Fewer farmers conserving land
• Amid strong farm economy, some dire signs"; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i++] = new Array("","Key players","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/z_Projects_in_progress/061113_dem_senate_leaders/harkin_tom.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Alex Wong", "Getty Images", "110", "78", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i-1].body = "
• Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa
• Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wisc.
• Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn.
• Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.
• Rep. Paul D. Ryan, R-Wisc.
• American Farmland Trust
• American Corn Growers Assoc."; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i++] = new Array("","Related video","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/POLITICS/070831/pol_070831_bush_vsmall_8a.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Larry Downing", "Reuters", "110", "87", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i-1].body = "
• White House threatens to veto farm bill
• Bush seeks $770 million for food aid
• Congress calls for a price check
• Food inflation
• Rich celebrities are getting farm subsidies"; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i++] = new Array("","External links","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/NEWS/z_Personal/Anastasi/WIM/080505_USDA_farmbill.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "70", "80", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i-1].body = "
• USDA: America’s Farm bill
• What is the “farm bill”? (.pdf file)
• House Agriculture Committee’s Farm Bill Homepage"; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i++] = new Array("","Tell us why it matters to you","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/TEASES/PARTICIPATE/FIRST_PERSON/FirstPerson-tz-std-txt.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "", "", "110", "147", "", "", "", "", ""); Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i-1].body = "
FirstPerson: Click here to share your thoughts (Text and video submissions welcome.)"; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i++] = new Array("","Discuss with others","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/TEASES/POLITICS/Newsvine/Newsvine-tz-std-txt.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "110", "147", "", "", "", "", ""); Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i-1].body = "
Why do you think people should care about the farm bill? Click here to enter the Newsvine community and share your point of view."; Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i++] = new Array("","Suggest another topic","","","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); Politics_WIM_Farm_Bill[i-1].body = "
Is there something else you'd like to know about? Click here to recommend another topic for \"Why it matters\"."; // END editorial data