WASHINGTON, D.C.–The vote came Thursday in Washington to cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, or Food Stamps, by nearly $40 billion over the next ten years. That means much less money in a program that one in four Mississippians use to buy food.
The final vote in the U.S. House was 217-210, with 15 Democrats voting yes, but zero Republicans voting no.
Mississippi’s Congressional delegation was split along party lines. Congressmen Palazzo, Nunnelee, and Harper voted for the cuts, and Thompson voted against.
The White House has threatened to veto the bill if it makes it all the way through.
The total spending on SNAP over the next ten years was expected at $725 billion. Cutting $40 billion of that would cut about 3.8 million people.
Eligibility requirements have been lax under the Obama administration, with many more millions eligible since now, if you are on any other kind of federal assistance, you qualify for food stamps.
