Farm Bill To Focus On Food Stamp Spending

The Senate is debating the farm bill, a 1,000-page production that will determine farm policy well into the future. But in terms of the money involved, the legislation could just as well be referred to as the food stamp bill.

While the legislation outlines fundamental changes in farm safety net programs, some 80 percent of the half-trillion dollars it would spend over the next five years would go to food stamps.

That’s nearly $80 billion a year.

Republicans in both the Senate and the House say that food stamp spending can be cut significantly without taking benefits from those who need them.

But Democrats say even the modest adjustments in the bill go too far and should be opposed.