Farm Bill Passes House (New York Times)
On Wednesday, a new five-year farm bill passed the House of Representatives on a 251-to-166 vote. The Senate is expected to take up the bill today or tomorrow. The bill authorizes approximately $1 trillion in agricultural subsidies and nutrition support programs and saves about $16.6 billion over the next ten years. This bill makes cuts of approximately $8 billion to nutrition assistance. It also eliminates direct payment subsidies to farmers, instead increasing the government’s participation in the crop insurance program.
