Bernie Sanders voted for the farm bill which will result in $8.6 billion in food stamp cuts [View all]

[Cali_Democrat]

Here's some of Bernie's statement:

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“This was a difficult vote on a bill which has some positive provisions but also some very negative ones.

“This bill will bring greater stability to Vermont dairy farmers by helping them to manage risks and produce products more efficiently. It also is good news that a successful MILC program will stay in place until new insurance provisions for dairy farmers are implemented.

“The bill encourages increased access to healthy, local foods and will build on a growing movement in Vermont which has created agriculture jobs and provided local food for Vermonters. Another provision helps low-income seniors shop at farmers’ markets and roadside stands that are popular across Vermont.

“I am very disappointed that this bill makes $8.6 billion in cuts over the next decade to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. While the final bill steps back from $40 billion in food stamp cuts that House Republicans had demanded, it is both morally and economically wrong to cut assistance to families in a very difficult economy.


http://vtdigger.org/2014/02/05/sanders-statement-farm-bill-2/

Looks like Bernie went with compromise rather than an all or nothing approach which would ultimately hurt even more Americans. Bernie is a good Senator and he knows how government actually works.

The fact that this bill cuts $8.6 billion in food stamps is awful, but compromise is necessary in this case.

Bernie compromised.