The House today in a 198-213 vote rejected the 2018 farm bill, H.R. 2. Thirty Republicans joined every Democrat in voting against the measure.
Democrats and some moderate Republicans had opposed the bill from its early stages over proposed changes that would impose stricter work requirements for beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), while conservatives argued that the requirements did not go far enough.
But the deciding blow against the bill came from the conservative House Freedom Caucus, who held their votes hostage demanding that the House first vote on controversial, hardline immigration legislation before the farm bill.
Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-NC) said his members think there’s plenty of time to move the farm bill, which doesn’t expire until Sept. 30, allowing time for the caucus to potentially make a deal on bringing an immigration bill for a vote.
