Like I need to back up my opinions nothing much on this forum are All real facts.

WASHINGTON – The House voted Thursday evening to cut nearly $40 billion in the next decade from the country's food stamp assistance program.

The 217-210 vote was a major victory for Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia and largely cast along party lines. All House Democrats and 15 Republicans voted against slashing the budget for the program.

Despite its passage in the House, the bill is unlikely to make it through the Democrat-controlled Senate.

The bill's savings would be achieved by allowing states to put broad new work requirements in place for many food stamp recipients and to test applicants for drugs. The bill also would end government waivers that have allowed able-bodied adults who don't have dependents to receive food stamps indefinitely.

Conservatives have said the program has become bloated. More than 47 million Americans are now on food stamps, and the program's cost more than doubled in the last five years as the economy struggled through the Great Recession.

Finding a compromise -- and the votes -- to scale back the feeding program has been difficult.

Conservatives have insisted on larger cuts, Democrats have opposed any cuts, and moderate Republicans from areas with high food stamp usage have been wary of efforts to slim the program.

"I think the cuts are too drastic and too draconian," said Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y. He represents Staten Island, which was hard hit by Hurricane Sandy last year. "Those that really need the program will suffer," he said.

Ahead of Thursday's vote, House GOP leaders reached out to moderates to ensure their support while anti-hunger groups have similarly worked to garner opposition to the cuts.

The food stamp legislation is the House's effort to finish work on a wide-ranging farm bill, which has historically included both farm programs and food stamps. The House Agriculture Committee approved a combined bill earlier this year, but it was defeated on the floor in June after conservatives revolted, saying the cuts to food stamps weren't high enough. That bill included around $2 billion in cuts annually.

After the farm bill defeat, Republican leaders split the legislation in two and passed a bill in July that included only farm programs. They promised the food stamp bill would come later, with deeper cuts.

Republicans have emphasized that the bill targets able-bodied adults who don't have dependents. And they say the broader work requirements in the bill are similar to the 1996 welfare law that led to a decline in people receiving that government assistance.

"Politically it's a great issue," says Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., one of the conservatives who has pushed for the larger cuts. "I think most Americans don't think you should be getting something for free, especially for the able-bodied adults."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Tuesday that Democrats are united against the bill.

"Maybe I'm just hoping for divine intervention, but I really do believe that there are enough Republicans that will not identify themselves with such a brutal cut in feeding the American people," Pelosi said at a news conference.

On Wednesday, President Obama threatened to veto any bill that made deeper cuts than the Senate version.

now let's hope they put what is left to good use with People who really have need of the Program!

Not holding my Breath though!

crazy stuff

What ever you don't hold your breath! And don't you dare define the majority of food stamp recipients either!

well,not for me to decide who would qualify,but I know the propensity of Politicians for Cronyism,and those who really could use some assistance usually all what they can do is suck their Thumb in lieu of Groceries!

Sad but true and as the needy remain needy, those capable of working choose to work the system.....

It is a $75 to $80 billion dollar a year program.

I would bet that less than half that money is actually spent by recipients..

$4 billion a year out of a program this size is not going to starve kids or the elderly.

So the liberal cries to the contrary are just the typical fearmongering that has become a staple of their policy making.

If you can't label someone a racist accuse them of hating poor kids or the elderly..

Like I need to back up my opinions nothing much on this forum are All real facts.

well,not for me to decide who would qualify,but I know the propensity of Politicians for Cronyism,and those who really could use some assistance usually all what they can do is suck their Thumb in lieu of Groceries!

How bout the stores requiring ID's to match the food stamp card? Seems that would be pretty simple to do.

Duh.

the 'needy' are eligible,,,,

•
76% of SNAP households included a child, an elderly person, or a disabled person. These vulnerable households receive 83% of all SNAP benefits.


•
SNAP eligibility is limited to households with gross income of no more than 130% of the federal poverty guideline, but the majority of households have income well below the maximum: 83% of SNAP households have gross income at or below 100% of the poverty guideline ($19,530 for a family of 3 in 2013), and these households receive about 91% of all benefits. 61% of SNAP households have gross income at or below 75% of the poverty guideline ($14,648 for a family of 3 in 2013).[ii]


http://feedingamerica.org/how-we-fight-hunger/programs-and-services/public-assistance-programs/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program/snap-myths-realities.aspx#

like we do with debit card purchases? oh yeah,, we don't,,,