GOP leaders ready to quell states’ food stamp revolt
Republican leaders are threatening to take congressional action to stop state governors from flouting the food stamp cuts contained in the 2014 farm bill.
The governors of at least six states — New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Montana and Oregon — have now taken measures to protect more than a combined $800 million in annual Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, and more states are expected to follow suit. Their actions threaten — over time — to wipe out the more than $8 billion in cuts over 10 years to the food stamp program that were just passed by Congress as part of the 2014 farm bill.
But those who initially supported the food stamp cuts are warning that retaliatory actions may be coming.
(Also on POLITICO: Full agriculture policy coverage)
“Since the passage of the farm bill, states have found ways to cheat, once again, on signing up people for food stamps,” Speaker of the House John Boehner told reporters Thursday. “And so I would hope that the House would act to try to stop this cheating and this fraud from continuing.”
Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), one of the 2014 farm bill’s four principal architects, warned: “I suspect that this will create a call for action from members of the House and … these governors now will cause a new set of hearings, a new set of bills, a new set of appropriations amendments.”
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/food-stamp-cuts-104672.html#ixzz2w2yi1ghO
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