Originally published December 8 2005
House passes drastic cuts to food stamp program amid protests from anti-hunger groups
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Analysts predicts that 235,000 people could lose food stamp benefits after the House of Representatives cut $700 million from the food stamp program.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Friday to cut $700 million from the food stamp program as part of a broad bill to reduce federal spending by $50 billion, despite objections from antihunger groups.
Some 235,000 people would lose food stamp benefits under the House bill, according to one analysis.
The House bill, which also trimmed other social programs for the poor, was narrowly approved on a vote of 217-215 early on Friday.
House and Senate negotiators now must write a final, compromise version of legislation to pare federal spending over five years.
The Senate did not cut food stamps in its version of a $35 billion budget-cutting bill.
In a statement, the White House said it supported the House "efforts to narrow overly broad exemptions from the food stamp program's eligibility limits."
President (George W.) Bush proposed restrictions in February that are similar to the House-approved steps.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Saxby Chambliss said earlier this month that he would oppose "substantial cuts" in food stamps in the budget bill.
By tradition, the Georgia Republican would be a senior negotiator on the budget bill.
Under the House plan, roughly 165,000 people who now automatically are enrolled in food stamps when they get assistance from welfare programs would lose their food stamps.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said the affected people were mostly working families with children.
States would have the option to continue offering free school lunches to families cut off of food stamps.
The Center on Budget said it was unlikely all states would do so.
The House proposal also would require 70,000 legal immigrants in most cases to wait seven years to become eligible for food stamps, rather than the current five years.
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