A major loss for the GOP and Donald Trump today as a farm bill he and Paul Ryan both strongly support fails to pass the House Freedom Caucus. The Washington Post reports:
“A sweeping farm bill failed in the House on Friday in a blow to GOP leaders who were unable to placate conservative lawmakers demanding commitments on immigration.
The House leadership put the bill on the floor gambling it would pass despite unanimous Democratic opposition. They negotiated with members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus up to the last minutes.
But their gamble failed. The vote was 213 to 198, with 30 Republicans joined 183 Democrats in defeating bill.”
“The House farm bill would impose stricter work requirements on between 5 million and 7 million participants in SNAP, still known to many as food stamps, and largely keeps farm policy — like commodity supports and crop insurance — status quo.”
Reaction from both sides is coming in:
The House just rejected a #GOPFarmBill which failed the millions of Americans working in agriculture & the millions more who are food insecure. Republicans should now come to the table, return to a historic, bipartisan tradition & negotiate in good faith. https://t.co/PLh3JnpZmF pic.twitter.com/wIsLzDTTVG
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) May 18, 2018
.@ConawayTX11 statement following House #farmbill vote: "We may be down, but we are not out. We will deliver a strong, new farm bill on time as the President of the United States has called on us to do." #2018FarmBill https://t.co/1m4q81lG3O pic.twitter.com/LySBuQI749
— House Ag Committee (@HouseAgNews) May 18, 2018
Terrible Republican Farm Bill – HR 2 – was just defeated in the House by Democrats and 30 defecting Republicans. This bill punished poor, hungry families, protected polluters, and propped up profits for big corporations. 3 days of floor debate just crashed and burned – good!
— Rep. Betty McCollum (@BettyMcCollum04) May 18, 2018
A Farm Bill is necessary to provide farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers with the stability and predictability they need. Our farmers feed the people of this nation and the world, and they deserve the certainty of a Farm Bill.
— Sec. Sonny Perdue (@SecretarySonny) May 18, 2018
For years, the Farm Bill has been about supporting farmers, strengthening communities and providing food for America. I am disappointed that my GOP colleagues instead decided to push a partisan and controversial bill that would harm our environment and families in need. https://t.co/IEMXKz1FYP
— Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) May 18, 2018
NPR says that Pat Roberts, the top GOP Senator working on the Senate version of the bill, is taking a more bi-partisan attitude:
“Support or no, this version of the bill would have been dead on arrival in the Senate, where Democrats have more sway.
“Regardless of what happens in the House, and I hope they can get something passed, the Senate is working toward a bipartisan bill because we have to get 60 votes,” Roberts said prior to the vote.
The current farm law expires at the end of September — all but assuring that the fight will continue right up until the next election.”
