Article: House approves 70 percent hike in farm subsidies.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

WASHINGTON _ The House of Representatives passed a $45 billion boost in farm spending Thursday that would increase agricultural subsidies by 70 percent, ignoring objections from environmentalists and free-trade advocates.

House approval was overwhelming, 280-141. Senate passage is expected early next week, and President Bush has said he will sign it into law.

The bill would raise subsidy payments to grain and cotton farmers and resurrect subsidy programs buried by the 1996 Freedom to Farm Act, which had tried to wean America's agriculture sector from government subsidies and leave farmers to the mercies of the free market. The new legislation, by ...

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