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Conaway's farm bill amendment plan
Story Date: 4/30/2018
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Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 4/27/18
House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway on Thursday expressed confidence that he can get a farm bill passed in the House during the week of May 14, and offered a window into how he plans to thwart so-called poison pill amendments that could sink the legislation. The Texas Republican, during an interview on the radio show "Adams on Agriculture," said he expects a debate rule that would allow only lawmakers who plan to vote for the bill, H.R. 2 (115), to offer amendments.
"If you're going to be a 'no' on final, and it sounds like [ranking member Collin] Peterson's already made his mind up, then ... he's probably not getting an amendment through the rules just to make things worse, put a poison pill amendment in," Conaway said.
Changes to SNAP, one way or another? Asked if there is a possibility that a farm bill that is conferenced between the House and Senate won't include reforms to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Conaway replied no: There will be some changes to the food stamp program, he said, but acknowledged that they may not go as far as what was proposed in the House measure.
"I'm going to get this bill across the House floor because it is just good policy. We didn't come at this and try to cut spending ... We came at it the right way, with the right heart. We're trying to help people get off these programs, get their lives back under their own control, and who's against that?" he said.
Swaying the opposition? Conaway met with AARP on Wednesday in an effort to build support for the bill's proposed changes to SNAP, which include stricter work requirements for between 5 million and 7 million Americans, tightened eligibility standards, and a significant investment to expand education and training programs. "They came out of that meeting scratching their heads as to why they were so vehemently against the bill when they found out that we don't hurt seniors in our proposal," Conaway said, adding: "They've had second thoughts as they understood what we're actually doing and that they were misled."
Joyce Rogers, AARP's senior vice president of government affairs, told MA that the organization continues to have "deep concerns about the negative impacts that the proposed changes to SNAP would have" on its 43 million recipients. AARP strongly opposes expanding work requirements, Rogers said, particularly for people ages 50 to 59 who often take longer to secure employment.
Shots fired at CBPP: Conaway also said during the interview that the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal think tank, is opposed to the nutrition title because it "goes after their cash cow." His point was that the organization helps California and Illinois gain approval from USDA to waive time limits on SNAP benefits for able-bodied adults without dependents who aren't working. States can request to temporarily waive that time limit when unemployment is high or when there are not enough jobs available. Currently, 36 states have waivers in place either statewide or in certain areas.
CBPP President Bob Greenstein refuted Conaway's accusations in a statement to MA. He said the organization provides technical assistance to both Democrat- and Republican-led states at their request to determine which areas are eligible for time-limit waivers.
"The Center does not accept a single dollar from any government for this or any other work. We've been critical of Chairman Conaway's SNAP proposals because we believe they are unsound and would increase hunger and hardship. The public deserves a robust debate on these issues without policymakers hurling scurrilous claims against those who have an honest disagreement with them," Greenstein said.
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