Early this evening the Republican-led House voted to kick four million Americans off food stamps by stripping $40 million from the program. The vote was 217-210. No Democrat voted for the bill. Only 15 Republicans voted against the bill. However, five Democrats and one Republican did not vote at all. Had they all voted no, bill still would have passed, by one vote.
“The bill would cut $40 billion from the food stamp program over the next 10 years. It would also require adults between 18 and 50 without minor children to find a job or to enroll in a work training program in order to receive benefits. It would also limit the time those recipients could get benefits to three months,” the New York Times reports:
According to the Congressional Budget Office, nearly four million people would be removed from the food stamp program under the House bill. A Census Bureau report released on Tuesday found that the food stamp program had kept about four million people above the poverty level and had prevented millions more from sinking further into poverty.
Is your Congressman one of those who think America’s kids don’t need food in their stomachs to do well in school?
Tea Party Congressman Phil Gingrey yesterday told his colleagues in a closed-door meeting just how frustrated he is with what he sees as his low-income. “I’m stuck here making $172,000 a year,” the Georgia Republican millionaire lamented. Gingrey tonight voted to cut food stamps from four million people.
Below is the complete list of how each member of the House voted on the food stamps bill.
Not sure who your Congressman? The U.S. House of Representatives website can tell you who your member of Congress is, and how to contact them, all by entering your ZIP code.
The Times has an interactive roll call list of the food stamp vote.
LOOK:
FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR FOOD STAMPS PROGRAM: 217-210
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