The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed H.R. 5652, the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act of 2012, authored by House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). The measure slashes $35.8 billion from nutrition programs under Agriculture Committee jurisdiction. The White House on Wednesday issued a statement opposing the legislation, and pledging that President Obama will veto it, saying the bill's "unbalanced provisions fail the test of fairness and shared responsibility."
"At the same time as the House is advancing tax cuts that benefit the most fortunate Americans, H.R. 5652 would impose deep budget cuts that cost jobs and hurt middle class and vulnerable Americans – especially seniors, veterans, and children," the White House said.
The measure was designed to reduce the budget deficit, while also overriding deep cuts to the Pentagon’s budget included in last summer's debt deal, which are mandated to begin in 2013 because of the failure of the so-called Supercommittee to agree to a deficit-reduction plan. But the GOP focused solely on cutting social services programs. The vote was 218-99. 16 Republicans opposed it, as did 100% of the Democrats who voted.
“Today, my Republican friends have brought to the floor a reconciliation bill that actually makes sequestration look good,” said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass).
In the bill, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, aka Food Stamps) eligibility is tightened; the Social Services Block Grant, which funds Meals on Wheels, is ended; the Prevention and Public Health Trust Fund under the 2010 healthcare law is ended; the Federal Medicaid match to states is reduced, and there are new stricter eligibility standards for Medicaid required. The bill leaves pending mandatory cuts in place, including cuts to Medicare. It overrides $72 billion in cuts to the Pentagon and on defense spending mandated by sequestration, but adds $315 billion total in new cuts.
The House passage sends the bill to the Senate, where Members have pledged it will not pass, in addition to the President's veto position.
U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson (D-Minn) voted against the bill, and issued a statement blasting the measure for slashing nutrition funding, and decrying it as a partisan divider.
“Everything must be on the table if we are going to have a serious conversation about getting our budget under control," Peterson said. "Refusing to consider large budget items like defense and choosing instead to slash nutrition programs that feed millions of hard-working families is not the way to balance our budget. Since we know this isn't going anywhere the only thing that will likely come out of this vote is an even more divided Congress."
“The farm bill expires this fall and while the Agriculture Committee has a strong history of bipartisanship I worry that if we continue down this partisan path it will be far more difficult to pass a farm bill this year.”
*The Committee Print of the bill [PDF]
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