Ask FactCheck: Week ending May 23

May 23, 2008

Q: In the farm bill, how much money goes to direct subsidies for farmers, what percentage goes to higher income farmers and how much is allotted for feeding the poor?

A: About $26 billion will be spent on direct payments to farmers over the next five years. We can't give a figure for exactly how much will go to "upper income" farmers, but the income limits are set quite high. The lion's share of the bill's $307 billion cost ($209 billion) will go for nutrition assistance.

Q: What's going on with Florida's and Michigan's delegates to the Democratic convention?

A: The DNC rules committee will meet May 31 to come up with a solution to seating the delegates.

Q: Can a person who is not constitutionally eligible for the office of president be in the line of succession?

A: Such a person can serve in an office that is in the line of succession, but he or she can't become president and would get skipped over if the presidency was vacated.

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