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Thursday, September 13, 2012

New Farm Bill Would Aid More Md. Farmers, But Hurt Food Stamp Recipients

With the U.S. Farm Bill of 2008 about to expire Sept. 30, advocates from Maryland and across the nation are pressuring Congress to quickly pass the 2012 bill that would end the subsidies for big corporate farms before Congress breaks for the election. But Maryland lawmakers are not confident it will make that deadline.

Both the Senate and the House bills spell the end for Direct Payment subsidies in favor of crop insurance programs. The gridlock stems from disagreement over cuts to the food stamp program, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). After the Senate proposed $4.5 billion in cuts to SNAP, the House Agriculture Committee proposed cutting $16.5 billion that would leave an estimated two to three million Americans without food assistance, according to the progressive Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.

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4 comments:

Anonymous said...

And the downside of that is?

Anonymous said...

I have a major problem with the premise of this headline. Just couldn't get past it.
" Hurt food stamp recipients"?
How's this:
In order for a farmer to receive Federal aid, they must set aside a small portion of land for FORMER food stamp recipients to grow fruits and vegetables. Let them work for food instead of waiting on the front porch for it to be bought, paid for and delivered by the Government redistribution of wealth programs.

Anonymous said...

According to Steny Hoyer - food stamps and unemployment are both necessary...have the out of work food stamp recipients go pick crops...that will solve a number of problems...the farmers will have their crops picked by legal workers, illegal workers will have fewer places to work - maybe they'll go home, and these folks will have a job that may entice them to look harder for other work after this kick their butts.

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:22,

You got one thing wrong...the gov't. doesn't pay for it; we, the working people do!