For the second time in five years, House Republicans failed to pass a farm bill, this time because of conservative demands for action on immigration and fierce Democratic opposition to the legislation’s food stamp reforms.
Thirty Republicans and every Democrat voted against the bill, which failed, 198-213, bringing cheers from the Democratic side of the chamber.
The GOP opponents included the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus and members of the hard-line conservative group who decided to use their votes on the farm bill as leverage to get a vote on a sweeping immigration measure sponsored by House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. Some moderate Republicans also voted against the measure, as expected. Read more