Farm bill fails in the House

[bemildred]

Source: NBC

The House failed to pass a major farm bill on Thursday after most Democrats joined with a handful of conservatives to scuttle the nearly $1 trillion legislation.

The House voted 195-234 to defeat the bill, which had been expected to pass. The Senate has already passed its own farm legislation.

Democrats, who were angry about the legislation’s cuts to food stamp programs, largely opposed the measure. Conservative groups like the Club for Growth and the Koch Brothers-linked Americans for Prosperity had meanwhile ratcheted up pressure on Republican lawmakers to oppose the legislation.

The failed vote is somewhat of an embarrassment for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and the rest of the GOP leadership. This is just the latest example of their inability to get Republican legislation over the finish line due to conservatives’ defections on the final vote.

Read more: http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/20/19060053-farm-bill-fails-in-the-house?lite

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Edit: Boehner still can't count.

[Firebrand Gary]

1. I'm shocked by the audacity.

A few things, Ezra Klein recently pointed out that this is new territory for the GOP. To go directly after a successful program that exclusively assist the poorest of the poor, is an all new low even for the GOP.

I couldn't help but notice that the Republican party left intact the Agra subsidies. Ladies and Gents, this is textbook overreach! 2014 is coming.

[closeupready]

2. Good, glad to hear it. Do NOT balance

anything on the backs of hungry Americans!! Keep calling your elected officials, folks - make sure they know you want things to swing back to the left!

[Iliyah]

3. Also, a large % of people who are on SNAP

are from the South, ya'know, the stronghold of the tea party nation.

[bunnies]

4. Why are the wingers against it?

Not enough cuts to programs that help the poor?

[appleannie1]

5. Exactly. Those cuts weren't deep enough for many Republicans

[bunnies]

6. Seriously?

And here I was, half joking. This has got to be a new low. wow.

[lobodons]

7. room to cut about 12% more

Donny Ferguson—the communications director and agriculture policy adviser for Republican Texas Rep. Steve Stockman “Not only did I buy a week’s worth of food on what Democrats claim is too little, I have money left over,” he said. “Based on my personal experience with SNAP benefit limits we have room to cut about 12% more.”

[beveeheart]

10. My question - would he, for a week, eat what he bought?

I don't think so. And as for having money left over, I have yet to hear one of our Food Bank clients brag about having extra SNAP dollars. What I do hear is how much their allotment has been cut. Almost every week I hear new "recipes" from our clients on how they have stretched their SNAP dollars, lots with carbs, not too many with fresh fruits and veggies. Our local weekly Farmers Market offers double value for SNAP dollars and one produce vendor has an all-you-can-stuff-in-a-bag offer for $10 which doubled will get them quite a lot of produce.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

8. "The failed vote is somewhat of an embarrassment for House Speaker John Boehner"

Expect another segment on Maddow tonight!

[krepitch]

9. Good

Anything with a "King Amendment" should probably never pass.

[life long demo]

11. Thank you for mentioned this

I wanted to post about the King amendment. We all know how much he loves to watch animals (fight), and feels that there is no place in government for any kind of legislation for the humane treatment of animals. I don't understand what he has against all animals, but we know what he and most republicans have against poor children so I guess it's no surprise there. I'm happy to hear the bill failed. I hope there is a major rewrite on this farm bill.