While Farm Bill Signed Into Law, SNAP Debate Remains

The partisan fight over food stamp work requirements that nearly derailed the 2018 Farm Bill is not going anywhere.  During the signing of the Farm Bill Friday, President Trump signaled he’s not giving up the fight to reform the SNAP food stamp program in order to get more people off food stamps and into the workforce.

“Today, I am directing my Administration to take immediate action on welfare reform.  Thanks to our thriving economy we have already lifted more than 4.6 million Americans off the food stamp rolls since the election, and more work remains to be done.”

Trump added he’s directed Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue to close work requirement loopholes and get able-bodied adults with no dependents to take jobs or look for work in order to receive food stamps.  The rule would tighten state SNAP work waivers based on jobless rates--a move the Administration claims would save $15 billion over the next decade.

But Democrats plan a fight.

House Ag Nutrition Panel Democrat Jim McGovern says trying to implement stiff work requirements for SNAP benefits administratively would be a bad move by the Trump White House.

“Such a move, I believe would likely lead to legal action, and the next Congress when Democrats are in the majority, we will use every legislative tool available to block such a move at every turn.  No more beating up on poor people.”

Top Senate Ag Democrat Debbie Stabenow who helped negotiate the farm bill without the SNAP changes, charged the proposed rule “ignores the bipartisan farm bill the president signed,” and disregards over 20 years of state waiver history.

She added: "I expect the rule will face significant opposition and legal challenges."

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