Republicans Vote to Slash Food Stamp Funding

House Republicans “narrowly approved a far-reaching overhaul of the nation’s food-stamp program Thursday that would slash food aid to about 4 million Americans over the next few years and shift a greater burden of taking care of the poor to state governments,” the Washington Post reports.

First Read: “They only reinforced the party’s negative stereotype that it isn’t compassionate in dealing with the nation’s poor. And they face the prospect of getting NOTHING in return; after all, the Senate will most likely restore the food-stamp cuts. But here’s what Republicans did get: They got the legislation out of the House, setting up the chance for a conference bill on the farm bill/food stamp legislation…. It’s messy, and it’s hurting the party’s brand. But it’s the way how Speaker John Boehner can move the legislation out of the House. The question is if House Republicans can get something in return for it.”