DelBene leaves stamp on contentious farm bill
By Kyung M. Song, The Seattle Times | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
But the
DelBene's provision is one of a slew of compromises in the 10-year,
Among them were two of six Democrats from
House Republicans last September passed a bill that would have slashed
The
Despite its name, about 80 percent of the farm bill's spending would go to food stamps, officially called
Spending on food stamps has roiled conservatives in
In
State residents with incomes less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level or
To placate both liberals and conservatives, a farm-bill conference committee bartered for compromises. One of them was DelBene's jobs-training program.
Initially, DelBene, a member of the
Some 18,000 people received job training in 2013 through the Basic Food Employment & Training program. Participants receive help ranging from career guidance to gas vouchers, child care to free tuition, to train for careers as bank tellers, welders, billing specialists and other jobs.
But instead of providing
That money was a peace gesture to help offset a
The
It was that disproportionate effect on the state that led Smith to vote against the bill this week, said his spokesman,
"I have visited with multiple nutrition-assistance organizations and community leaders, and seen firsthand how thousands of our state's children, veterans, seniors, disabled, and hardworking families rely on SNAP every day," Smith said in a statement. "This program is as important now as it has ever been."
Republicans agreed to earmark
Speaking on the House floor before Wednesday's vote, DelBene said she was disappointed some Americans will receive smaller food-stamp balances, but noted the bill ensures eligibility remains unchanged.
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