Politics

Ag Chief Chair Okay with Splitting Up Farm Bill

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

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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."