House defeats Dem farm bill protest

{mosads}The 50 Democrats voting with Republicans today is more than double the 24 Democrats who voted for the farm bill that failed in the House in June.

The vote came after several Democrats angrily criticized the legislation for ignoring the needs of hungry people in America. The food stamp program, formally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), made up about 80 percent of the original House farm bill that the House rejected in June.

“Shame on you,” Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) bellowed on the House floor. “You’ve removed food stamps and the SNAP program from this legislation.

“What is it about poor people that you don’t like? What is it? Tell us today.”

Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) said she has been told that seniors in her district eat dog food once their food stamps run out, and that it is critical to reauthorize SNAP along with the farm commodity programs. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) echoed Butterfield’s disappointment with Republicans, saying, “I stand here today in dismay and disgust” at the GOP bill.

The normally reserved Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) said she is disappointed in Republicans for trying to split food stamps from commodity programs and made the motion to adjourn.

“If we have no further business in this august body this week, we should go home,” she said. “I move that the House do now adjourn.”

In light of the vote, the House was expected to debate and vote on the rule for the bill, which allows just an hour of debate and no amendments. After that, a debate and final vote should happen by the early afternoon.