Ag Chief Chair Okay with Splitting Up Farm Bill

Separate out food stamps from other subsidies, to protect the subsidies, not the food stamps

Prodded by his leadership, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas said Tuesday he would support splitting his farm bill to allow separate votes on the nutrition title to appease conservatives — a strategy promoted by Majority Leader Eric Cantor and the Heritage Foundation.

But in a members-only meeting of Republicans on the Agriculture panel, senior lawmakers continued to express reservations to the Oklahoman.

And Lucas told POLITICO later: "If there are not 218 votes, if there is no assurance of success, why try the effort."