House Votes to Cut Food Stamps

The House has voted to cut food stamps by $2 billion a year.

The chamber rejected 234-188 a Democratic amendment to a wide-ranging farm bill that would have maintained current spending on food stamps and cut farm subsidies instead. The bill cuts the $80 billion-a-year program by about 3 percent and makes it harder for some people to qualify.

The Senate passed a farm bill last week that would make much smaller cuts to the food stamp program, which has doubled in cost since 2008.

The House is debating 103 amendments to the five-year, half-trillion dollar bill as backers are trying to shore up votes for final passage. Democrats are opposing it because of the food stamp cuts, while some conservatives say the cuts aren't deep enough.

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