Public Comment
Some Democrats Voted to Cut Food Stamps, Including Feinstein
A shocking and very painful event in the US Senate has just occurred— a majority of both Democrats and Republicans voted to support amendments to a farm bill that benefits corporate agriculture but cuts billions of dollars from the food stamp program for poor individuals and families!!! More than 47 million poor depend on food stamps to feed their hungry children and themselves.
A progressive amendment was proposed to restore $4 billion dollars that the current farm bill cut and to offset funding for the food stamp program by limiting crop insurance reimbursements that benefit large farms at the expense of small farms.
The Senate vote to defeat this amendment was overwhelming—26 to 70. Among the Senators who voted to retain cuts in food stamps while leaving the corporate welfare component untouched was Senator Feinstein. Senator Boxer voted to restore the funding for food stamps.
Soon a vote will be taken on the entire farm bill. It is urgent that we do what we can to oppose this dangerous farm bill. Please call Senator Boxer to thank her, and to also tell her to vote against the bill if the amendment to cut food stamps is not dropped. Also contact Senator Feinstein to strongly express your disappointment. Senator Feinstein also must be told not to support this corporate favored farm bill at the expense of increasing poverty. Eventually this bill will come before President Obama, who should be told to exercise his veto unless funding for food stamps is restored.
To reach: Your Congressional Rep & Senators Boxer & Feinstein you can make free calls to the Capitol Switchboard, then ask to be connected: 1-877-762-8762 or 1-800-826-3688. To reach President Obama: (202) 456-1414.
