Trump: SNAP Remains Hold Up In Farm Bill

Comments made by President Trump earlier this week suggest the struggle over the 2018 Farm Bill could last into the Democratic Controlled House.  Trump said the Farm Bill could pass very quickly if it wasn’t for the food stamp work requirements he and Republicans want to see and Democrats oppose.

“The Farm Bill is working really well, I mean, we could have had it approved anytime, but we’re looking to get work rules approved.  The farmers want it, and I’d like it, but the problem is Democrats are not giving us the ten votes that we need.”

The President talking about the 60-vote supermajority in the Senate, where controversial legislation can be passed.  House Ag chair and negotiator Mike Conaway, with the president’s backing, is insisting on the House farm bill’s SNAP work requirements.

“I was told on the SNAP stuff by the chairman, that he could not negotiate it, it was non-negotiable, that’s what got us into this problem,” said Colin Peterson.

“My ranking member had a letter from his folks not to negotiate on SNAP, I took him at his word on that regard, and it’s disappointing that we’ve reached this point,” Conaway noted.

That sets the stage for the next Congress, if Democrats feel they can get a better deal controlling the House, and with Senate Republicans still short of a supermajority.  But Peterson said he doesn’t want to wait, reasoning that starting a new farm bill would be much harder than finishing the one already started.  And while a lame-duck deal is still possible, finding middle ground on SNAP work rules remains a challenge.

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