Politics & Government

King Breaks Rank With GOP on Food Stamp Cuts

Congressman says $39 bllion in cuts to food stamp program is "too much, too quick."

The Republican-led House of Representatives passed a bill last week that would cut $39 billion from the federal food stamp program over the next decade. 

The bill passed by a 217-210 margin, with all 217 yes votes coming from Republicans. Local Rep. Peter King was not one of them. 

King, who is weighing a 2016 presidential bid, was among 15 Republicans to vote
against the proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 

"It's just too much, too quick, and we can't be talking about possibly shutting the government down at the same time we're cutting food stamps," King said, according to a report in The Hill. "We have to do one thing at a time."

Supporters of the bill say it would eliminate loopholes that allow millions of ineligible Americans to currently receive food stamps. The cuts to SNAP are expected to be drastically reduced when the bill is taken up by the Democrat-controlled Senate. 

What's your take? Should cuts be made to the food stamp program? Do you agree with Peter King's decision to break rank? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. 





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