``It's not the time to ask American families who are already paying more in the checkout line to pay more in subsidies for wealthy farmers,'' declared House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in a joint statement issued today.

Yeah right. Democratic leaders in Congress didn't say anything remotely resembling that today, or any time over the past year, for that matter.

That quote comes from President Bush this morning during a Rose Garden press conference.

Here's the story, from Bloomberg's Alan Bjerga.

Update: Bush's full remarks.

Americans are concerned about rising food prices. Unfortunately, Congress is considering a massive, bloated farm bill that would do little to solve the problem.

The bill Congress is now considering would fail to eliminate subsidy payments to multimillionaire farmers. America's farm economy is thriving. The value of farmland is skyrocketing. And this is the right time to reform our nation's farm policies by reducing unnecessary subsidies.

It's not the time to ask American families who are already paying more in the checkout line to pay more in subsidies for wealthy farmers.

Congress can reform our farm programs, and should, by passing a fiscally responsible bill that treats our farmers fairly and does not impose new burdens on American taxpayers.