President Obama on Friday used his pen for something other than executive orders, signing into law a $100 billion-a-year farm bill that he said represents a bipartisan breakthrough and is evidence Republicans and Democrats still can work together on meaningful legislation.
During a speech at Michigan State University, Mr. Obama said lawmakers and all Americans should be encouraged by the new five-year law.
“Investing in the communities that grow our food, helping hard-working Americans put that food on the table — that’s what this farm bill does, all while reducin

The Senate was expected to pass the almost 100 billion-a-year compromise bill Tuesday; the House passed it last week.

The House on Wednesday approved a nearly $100 billion-a-year farm bill that would make small reductions in the growth of food stamp spending while continuing generous subsidies for the nation's farmers.

The vote was 251-166. The five-year bill now goes to the Senate for final approval.

Leaders scheduled a quick vote after the nearly 1,000-page bill was introduced Monday, g

The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to pass a five-year farm bill.

The $100 billion-a-year measure included small cuts to the food stamps program, and preserved some farm subsidies. The vote in the House was 251-166.

The bill now heads to the Senate, which is expected to approve it. President Obama is expected to sign the measure into law.

Here's more from The Associated Press:

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill authorizing nearly $1 trillion in spending on farm subsidies and nutrition programs, setting the stage for final passage of a new five-year farm bill that has been stalled for over two years.

Negotiators from the House and Senate spent several weeks working out their differences on issues

Pressure is mounting on lawmakers working on a farm bill to come up with a deal before the end of the month, when the Agriculture Department is to begin enforcing a series of decades-old laws that could cause the price of milk and other agricultural products to double.

Washington (CNN) -- House Republicans stripped food stamp provisions opposed by conservatives and narrowly passed scaled back legislation on Thursday to overhaul the nation's farm programs.
Democrats chastised the GOP for ignoring initiatives they argue poor Americans need to keep from going hungry.
The vote was 216-208 and no Democrat voted for it. Twelve Republicans opposed the bill.
Debate on the floor was raucous and Democrats several times angrily screamed at Republicans and accused them of dismissing the needs of low income Americans.

Republicans muscled a pared-back agriculture bill through the House on Thursday, stripping out the food stamp program to satisfy recalcitrant conservatives but losing what little Democratic support the bill had when it failed last month. It was the first time food stamps had not been a part of the farm bill since 1973.

The expiration of the farm bill has left dairy farmers without a milk pricing program — and a safety net. While all farmers are watching closely, milk producers face an environment where cow feed costs more than cow milk.