House farm bill passes with controversial food stamp changes
Source: Politico
By CATHERINE BOUDREAU 06/21/2018 04:08 PM EDT Updated 06/21/2018 05:12 PM EDT
The House passed its farm bill Thursday by a vote of 213-211 after weeks of uncertainty over whether leadership would be able to secure enough support within the fractious GOP Conference to pass a measure that is critical to farm country.
Republican leadership succeeded in rebounding from last month’s stunning defeat of the massive $860 billion legislation by meeting the demands of the House Freedom Caucus, which helped tank the first vote by withholding support as leverage to force a roll call on a conservative immigration measure. The immigration bill, written by House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), was voted down earlier Thursday, but clearing that hurdle led the influential conservative bloc to deliver just enough support to pass the farm bill.
Freedom Caucus support was essential, because Democrats were unanimous in their opposition to the bill over new work requirements for food stamp recipients. Twenty Republicans joined with Democrats in opposing the bill.
Passage of the House farm bill — which would re-authorize programs ranging from nutrition assistance and crop subsidies to rural development and agricultural research — moves Congress one step closer to sending a bill to President Donald Trump before the current legislation expires at the end of September. The Senate is planning to take up its version, which has bipartisan support, as soon as next week, and passage is widely expected — but trouble could be in store when both bills get to conference.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/21/house-passes-farm-bill-663124
= new reply since forum marked as read
