Proposed Cuts to SNAP
Delay Release of Draft Farm Bill

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway said he is delaying the release of the 2018 farm bill to try and produce a bill with bipartisan support.

The move comes after intense Democratic opposition over cuts to the food-stamp program raised the possibility the bill could be imperiled.

“What I don’t want to be is in those negotiations, put something out there and have to change it,” the Texas Republican told reporters. “We’re in negotiations.”

Representative Collin Peterson of Minnesota, the ranking Democrat on the farm panel, said the draft bill would drop 8 million people from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), dooming support from Democrats.

Conaway has denied that number of people would lose benefits, but budget-hawk Republicans may balk at any plan that doesn’t do enough to cut food stamps and farm subsidies.

Conaway had previously said his committee would send a farm bill to the House floor with the goal of a full-chamber vote by the end of March. That becomes more difficult now.

Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts (R, Kansas) said it is crucial to get the farm bill done this year because of the possibility that tariffs imposed by President Trump might trigger retaliation that would hit farmers.

“At a time when farm income is down and exports are threatened from a protectionist trade policy, it is the duty of the agriculture committees to provide farmers with some certainty,” Roberts said.

The Senate may release its version of the legislation in April.

Source: Bloomberg