July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Stutzman touts farm-only bill
Rep. Marlin Stutzman succeeded in decoupling aid to America’s farmers from the food stamp program in the House, but he’s not at all sure the Senate will see things the same way.
“It’s going to be interesting to see” what happens to the “farm-only” farm bill in the Senate, Stutzman said Monday morning. “I don’t know. I don’t know the answer yet.”
Stutzman, R-3rd District, passed through Jay County during the current Congressional recess.
For decades, the food stamp program and farm support payments have been part of a comprehensive bill.
But the Stutzman-backed farm bill approved by the House in July separates the two. Stutzman argues agriculture and the food stamp program are “going in different directions.”
“We have an ag industry that’s doing very well and going in one direction and needing much less government involvement,” he said. “Then on the other hand you have the food stamp program with the recession and the dragging economy. … There’s a lot of reform going on in the ag policy side, but not much reform in the food stamp program.
“We don’t want to take away food from people who really need it. But also … there’s abuse of the program where we’ve created a commodity on the street. People will take a $40 food stamp debit card and will sell it for $25 in cash. So we don’t want that to be happening.
“We want to make sure that the people who need help, and they’re out there, are getting the help they need.
“This isn’t as much partisan as it is the difference between urban America and rural America. Helping both sides understand where these programs are going has been the real challenge, and I think we’re making progress.”
Agricultural interests aren’t as well represented in Congress as they have been in the past, according to Stutzman.
“Our numbers are just shrinking altogether,” he said. “We are a minority.”
Once the issues were separated, he was able to find support from representatives who had not supported any farm bill in the past but could support a “farm-only” farm bill.
“I think because of the fiscal situation in Washington members of Congress are skeptical of voting for these large, comprehensive bills. … They want to see smaller packages. You had to separate them to get them to pass.
“The food stamp program has almost tripled over the past decade in size. … We’ve lost control of the program.”
He urged allowing states to set their own standards for qualifying for food stamps and added, “We’re also trying to say that if you’re an able-bodied person without children that you shouldn’t be on food stamps, that you should find your way off.”
Stutzman acknowledged his family farm operation has received federal support payments in the past and continues to do so.
Stutzman also said despite repeated House votes to defund the Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” it’s unlikely similar action will be taken by the Senate or clear President Obama’s desk.
“I think the health care law is here to stay through the Obama administration,” he said, though he believes it could be revised. “What I wish is that the president would just admit that there are problems to it. There need to be reforms made.”
On other issues, Stutzman said:
•The U.S. should be cautious in its approach to current unrest in Syria, Egypt and other parts of the Middle East.
“The Middle East has always been a rough neighborhood,” he said. “Our primary relationship in the Middle East is Israel. We should make sure that relationship is strong and that we are there to defend Israel. … First of all, our country is $17 trillion in debt. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were costly. Our economy is struggling. We have to make sure America is strong first before we can help others. So right now, I don’t take a complete isolationist position, but I don’t take an internationalist position either.”
•On the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, he believes the country has made progress in the area of civil rights.
“We’ve come a long way, and I hope we don’t lose that ground over race relations. We still struggle on the economic situations people find themselves in, but we haven’t lost opportunity yet.”
•His constituents are concerned about the direction in which the country is headed.
“They feel like things are good in Indiana for the most part. … But there’s a lot of concern. There’s fear. And there’s anger. A lot of emotions about what’s going on in Washington.”
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“It’s going to be interesting to see” what happens to the “farm-only” farm bill in the Senate, Stutzman said Monday morning. “I don’t know. I don’t know the answer yet.”
Stutzman, R-3rd District, passed through Jay County during the current Congressional recess.
For decades, the food stamp program and farm support payments have been part of a comprehensive bill.
But the Stutzman-backed farm bill approved by the House in July separates the two. Stutzman argues agriculture and the food stamp program are “going in different directions.”
“We have an ag industry that’s doing very well and going in one direction and needing much less government involvement,” he said. “Then on the other hand you have the food stamp program with the recession and the dragging economy. … There’s a lot of reform going on in the ag policy side, but not much reform in the food stamp program.
“We don’t want to take away food from people who really need it. But also … there’s abuse of the program where we’ve created a commodity on the street. People will take a $40 food stamp debit card and will sell it for $25 in cash. So we don’t want that to be happening.
“We want to make sure that the people who need help, and they’re out there, are getting the help they need.
“This isn’t as much partisan as it is the difference between urban America and rural America. Helping both sides understand where these programs are going has been the real challenge, and I think we’re making progress.”
Agricultural interests aren’t as well represented in Congress as they have been in the past, according to Stutzman.
“Our numbers are just shrinking altogether,” he said. “We are a minority.”
Once the issues were separated, he was able to find support from representatives who had not supported any farm bill in the past but could support a “farm-only” farm bill.
“I think because of the fiscal situation in Washington members of Congress are skeptical of voting for these large, comprehensive bills. … They want to see smaller packages. You had to separate them to get them to pass.
“The food stamp program has almost tripled over the past decade in size. … We’ve lost control of the program.”
He urged allowing states to set their own standards for qualifying for food stamps and added, “We’re also trying to say that if you’re an able-bodied person without children that you shouldn’t be on food stamps, that you should find your way off.”
Stutzman acknowledged his family farm operation has received federal support payments in the past and continues to do so.
Stutzman also said despite repeated House votes to defund the Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” it’s unlikely similar action will be taken by the Senate or clear President Obama’s desk.
“I think the health care law is here to stay through the Obama administration,” he said, though he believes it could be revised. “What I wish is that the president would just admit that there are problems to it. There need to be reforms made.”
On other issues, Stutzman said:
•The U.S. should be cautious in its approach to current unrest in Syria, Egypt and other parts of the Middle East.
“The Middle East has always been a rough neighborhood,” he said. “Our primary relationship in the Middle East is Israel. We should make sure that relationship is strong and that we are there to defend Israel. … First of all, our country is $17 trillion in debt. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were costly. Our economy is struggling. We have to make sure America is strong first before we can help others. So right now, I don’t take a complete isolationist position, but I don’t take an internationalist position either.”
•On the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, he believes the country has made progress in the area of civil rights.
“We’ve come a long way, and I hope we don’t lose that ground over race relations. We still struggle on the economic situations people find themselves in, but we haven’t lost opportunity yet.”
•His constituents are concerned about the direction in which the country is headed.
“They feel like things are good in Indiana for the most part. … But there’s a lot of concern. There’s fear. And there’s anger. A lot of emotions about what’s going on in Washington.”
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