Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers” programs that some Democrats are supportive of and will vote for a $9 billion cut in the federal food stamp program known as SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). “If that is the figure, and if other matters that are still at issue can be resolved, I think the bill will probably pass, and it will pass with Democratic — some Democratic — support,” Hoyer said Thursday.
The Hill reports that the $9 billion cut is the result of a bipartisan proposal. House Republicans wanted a $39 billion cut. Democrats started at $4 billion. Even House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is open to supporting the cuts:
Hoyer’s backing of the $9 billion figure is significant, as House GOP leaders are expected to lose the support of a number of conservative Republicans who feel that anything much less than the $39 billion cut is a nonstarter. The GOP opposition means that House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) will almost certainly need Democrats to get the bill over the finish line. …
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D) has been a vocal critic of the SNAP cuts. Still, the California liberal this week remained open to supporting a $9 billion SNAP reduction as part of a broad farm bill agreement, something she said “we very much want.”
Democrat support for the $9 billion cut will make it very difficult for President Obama and the mainstream media to demonize Republicans over this cut — which is obviously something they would like to do.
