South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley vetoed a bill today to give farmers $40 million for help recovering from historic flooding over the fall. Governor Haley says it's unfair that farmers would get help unavailable to other small businesses.
In her message to the legislature, Haley said she's vetoing the bill "because it is an unprecedented bailout for a single industry affected by last year's flooding."
In early October, record-setting rainfall devastated South Carolina, forcing some farmers to use boats to check on their fields. State lawmakers passed a bill earlier this month to aid farmers who suffered at least a 40 percent loss on their crops.
Haley says that unlike most small businesses, farmers are eligible for federally subsidized insurance that covers a high percentage of their losses. She says there's also a variety of federal assistance for farmers affected by natural disasters.
The bill passed both the South Carolina House and Senate with only a handful of lawmakers voting against it. If those margins hold, lawmakers would easily override her veto.
