The Democratic-controlled House passed legislation Friday that combines billions in aid to farmers with funds for low-income nutrition programs, defying a veto threat from President Bush over the bill's largesse to crop producers.

The measure, which was passed on a 231-191 vote, devotes more money to conservation, renewable energy, nutrition and specialty crop programs than in the past but leaves in place -- and in some cases increases -- subsidies to producers of major crops such as corn and soybeans at a time of record-high prices.

It reflected a delicate straddle for Democrats writing their first farm bill in a decade, who struggled to balance the needs of first-term, farm-state lawmakers against the demands of liberals seeking more money for environmental and nutrition programs.

It is a "delicate straddle" for Democrats to claim fiscal responsibility and the end of pork and then create a farm subsidy bill to benefit recent Democrat winners in Congress at a time when farmers are seeing record prices for grain. Can you say hypocrisy?