When the House of Representatives passed a bill that would cut $39 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next decade, all but two of Pennsylvania’s congressmen voted along party lines.
The bill came from the House’s Republican majority and passed Thursday 217 to 210.
Of the 15 Republican legislators who broke ranks and joined the Democratic opposition, two were from Philadelphia’s suburbs: Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) and Pat Meehan (R-Delaware).
“Many families throughout the 7th District rely on SNAP as an important safety net,” Meehan wrote. “There is no doubt that reforms are necessary to ensure SNAP dollars are used wisely and appropriately, though I’m concerned that this legislation would have hurt the very people who need assistance the most.”
Every Democratic congressman voted against the measure.
Chaka Fattah (D-Philadelphia) explained his position on his congressional website.
“As a Member of Congress, and as an American, I believe we have a fundamental responsibility to ensure the most vulnerable members of our communities have secure access to food. Tonight I voted against legislation that would endanger our nation’s children, veterans, and seniors by denying them the assurance of this basic need.”
Glenn Thompson (R-Centre) was among those voted in favor of the party’s bill.
“We have a moral obligation to ensure that the neediest of individuals receive basic nutrition. We also have an obligation to live within our means and ensure that government policies promote, rather than impede, economic opportunity. “
The Washington Post notes that Democratic aides had predicted five more Republican lawmakers to side with the Democrats on the food stamp bill. Most of the GOP’s “no” votes came from suburban congressmen, like Meehan and Fitzpatrick.
It’s unlikely that the GOP version of the bill will pass the Senate, let alone earn a presidential signature.
In June, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill that did not contain significant cuts. Senator Bob Casey approved the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013. His colleague, Senator Pat Toomey, opposed it.
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7 Responses
Of course there are Dems who HAVE to carry the water for the present Adm., just like the dutiful ones who carried for the last Adm. Quite a few right wing folks were caterwauling about not honoring red lines that were drawn, so you are mistaken to characterise this as mostly agitating by Dems. Or is this really all about Jim Gerlach?
@Arlen, have you been hibernating for the past month or so? It was mostly Democrats that were agitating to bomb Syria as a show of force without any real strategic objective in mind.
Jim Gerlach has not always won by 14%. I have paid taxes that helped to support programs over the years that I did NOT want to fund; but, I would rather feed people than blow them up around the world.
“Observer” confirms reasons we must purge this state of illegal aliens and place a moratorium on all immigration. When did we descend as a society to the point whereby we welcome immigrants who depend on SNAP?
Jim Gerlach made a good vote for The Forgotten Taxpayer who is forced to fund this program.
Growing the economy is the key to raising everyone’s standard of living.
Fitzpatrick and Meehan continue government’s dependency spending.
Yeah, Observer. That 3.7% block of Hispanics in the 6th Congressional district are going to make a huge dent in Gerlach’s 14% margin of victory.
But Jim Gerlach thinks he’s safe enough to ignore the wishes of the majority of voters in his district? Lol… Just wait until all the Latino voters near Reading have been registered – his sorry backside will be OUT. And this is one vote that will come back to haunt him. Stupid Republicans just can’t seem to get this whole “demographics” thing figured out!