WASHINGTON - The U.S. House plans to vote today on a bill that cuts food stamps by nearly $40 billion over 10 years, a move that would eliminate benefits for 40,000 Minnesotans.
Food stamp funding has long been part of the farm bill, but after a disagreement over food stamp cuts sank a version of the farm bill, House Republicans in June decided to vote on the issue separately.
The House subsequently approved a scaled-down farm bill without food stamps in July. It now must be reconciled with the Senate Bill, which cut food stamps by $4 billion.
Democrats point to the weak job market and say government food assistance is desperately needed to keep 46 million Americans from going hungry.
Republicans say spending on the $74 billion program has more than doubled since 2008 and that it's rife with fraud.
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The GOP's initial proposal to cut $20 billion from food stamps over the next decade was shot down by conservatives who wanted even deeper cuts.
The new Republican bill under debate will make it harder for people to qualify for food stamps.
"The provisions are harsh," said Ed Bolen, a senior research associate for the liberal-leaning Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.
The center estimates that about 7 percent of Minnesota's food-stamp recipients would be cut from the program. Nationwide, nearly 4 million people would lose benefits, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Bolen said the GOP bill would limit single, able-bodied adults who aren't working to three months on food stamps.
Minnesota is one of many states with waivers that let those adults receive food stamps with no time limit because the state's unemployment rate - at 5.2 percent - is still high. If the bill becomes law, that will no longer be possible.
Passing the legislation would set up the opportunity for the House and Senate to negotiate a broader farm bill deal with fewer cuts to food stamps, said Kevin Paap, president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau.
None of Minnesota's three House Republicans responded to requests about whether they favor the proposed level of cuts.
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The dean of Minnesota's House delegation, U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, is deeply immersed in this food stamp fight.
As the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, Peterson helped draft the initial farm bill that had $20 billion in cuts - a number he reluctantly went along with.
This time, Peterson said he won't support the cuts.
"The most helpful outcome would be if it didn't pass," said Peterson, who represents the 7th District.
