House Fails to Pass Farm Bill

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The Friday attempt to approve the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 failed in the U.S. House, 198-213. 30 Republicans voted against the bill, along with 183 Democrats, without a Democrat supporting the legislation, as expected. The House Freedom Caucus refused to budge on its demand that the House considers immigration issues before passing a farm bill, thus voting against the bill. The House Freedom Caucus consists of roughly three-dozen conservatives that have made immigration a signature issue. Democrats in the chamber cheered as the bill failed as the minority party says it was given no chance to provide input on the bill, and objects to changes in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway disagreed, stating on the House floor that Democrats refused to provide input before lawmakers voted down a motion by Democrats to send the bill back to committee.
Conaway calls the vote a setback that follows a streak of victories throughout the week leading up to the vote. He says: “We may be down, but we are not out.” The Republican says lawmakers will deliver a new farm bill to the President on time, adding farmers and ranchers “deserve nothing less.” Meanwhile, Ranking Democrat of the House Agriculture Committee, Collin Peterson, says the failure provides “a good opportunity for us to return to the table” and “fix” the bill before moving forward.