House approves five-year farm bill

The House narrowly approved a five-year farm bill on Thursday that would impose new work requirements on people who receive food stamps. The legislation initially failed after conservatives demanded a vote on a conservative-backed immigration bill in exchange for their support last month. But the House was able to push the bill forward on Thursday in a 213-211 vote. The vote came the same day the House decided to postpone the vote on a compromise immigration bill and rejected another, more hardline immigration bill introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.). Passing the farm bill was a top priority for Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who argued the work requirements would help people move up the economic ladder. The bill authorizes a number of farm, agricultural and food programs that are set to expire at the end of September. Most Democrats opposed the farm bill over the new work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps...MORE