House passes farm bill; crop subsidies preserved

FIn this July 9, 2009, file photo three combines harvest the winter wheat on the Cooksey farm near Roggen, Colo.
FIn this July 9, 2009, file photo three combines harvest the winter wheat on the Cooksey farm near Roggen, Colo.

WASHINGTON — The House has passed an almost $100 billion-a-year, compromise farm bill that would make small cuts to food stamps and continue generous subsidies for the nation's farmers.

The vote was 251-166. The five-year bill now goes to the Senate, which is expected to send it to the president's desk.

The measure had solid backing from the House GOP leadership, even though it makes smaller cuts to food stamps than they would have liked. The bill would cut about $800 million a year from the $80 billion-a-year program, or around 1 percent. The House had sought a 5 percent cut.

The legislation would continue to heavily subsidize major crops while eliminating some subsidies and shifting them toward more politically defensible insurance programs.

Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

Cotton only Arkansas congressman to oppose

Arkansas U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton was the only member of the state's all-Republican House delegation to vote against the farm bill.

U.S. Reps. Rick Crawford, Tim Griffin and Steve Womack all supported the measure, which passed the House on a 251-166 vote Wednesday.

Speaking on the House floor Wednesday, Womack said the farm bill begins the process of making "much-needed reforms to federal programs."

Cotton said earlier in the day that the farm bill didn't do enough to cut the food stamp program.

Cotton is challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, who has criticized the Republican for opposing earlier versions of the farm bill. Pryor has said he supports the latest measure.

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