The House of Representatives voted down a new farm bill Thursday, meaning members will leave town for the weekend without a bill to accompany the Senate version of the legislation that passed earlier this month.
The bill failed 234 voting nay to 195 voting aye. The vote was primarily along partisan lines, but the defection of the 62 Republicans who voted against the legislation meant it couldn’t pass.
Republican opponents wanted deeper cuts in food stamps or other fiscal changes in the bill.
Democratic opposition to the farm bill was generally around the $20.5 billion in cuts to the food stamp program and a work requirement states could enact for food-stamp recipients.
Following the vote, as the rest of the House headed for the doors, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Virginia) argued for the better part of an hour over which party turned the bill into a partisan fight. Traditionally, the farm bill has received bipartisan support.
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