Capitol Hill Update VII

A lot of bad news for the White House this past week from Capitol Hill. Most significantly, both chambers of Congress successfully overrode President Bush's veto of a massive farm bill with new and bigger subsidies for farmers, plus more food stamps for the poor. Enough Republicans in the Senate voted with Democrats to give them a veto-proof margin on the war spending bill with unemployment and veterans' benefits added on and the House passed a veto-proof defense bill with a cut of over $700 million in missile defense and a move to review the role of foreign subsidies in a $35 billion aerial tanker deal.

Additionally, a pro forma Senate session on Friday prevented President Bush from recess-appointing several controversial nominees. The House passed a veto-proof bill authorizing the federal government to sue OPEC in US courts over alleged price fixing. And the House judiciary committee subpoenaed Karl Rove to testify about the U.S. attorneys scandal.