GOP Leaders Pitch Reforms in 2018 Farm Bill

(16 May 2018) House Republicans are hoping to get this year's farm bill to the floor for a vote, and Wednesday, House Speaker Paul Ryan and other GOP leaders touted the bills reforms of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, as a way to reduce dependency on government, and get more Americans back to work.
"It sets up a system where SNAP recipients who are able to go to work can work, and if they can't they will be guaranteed training that they need," Ryan said.
The bill extends federal agriculture and food programs through 2023.
"We now see companies looking to hire workers and that's a great thing," said House Majority Whip Steve Scalise.
"But at the same time we also see a record number of people, a ballooning number of people on SNAP," he said.
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and other Democrats, accused President Donald Trump of breaking a campaign promise by stepping back from his pledge to use the buying power of the government's Medicare program to negotiate lower costs for seniors.
"After months of kicking the can down the road, the President pulled his punch, he delivered his speech, and guess what, negotiations were not on the table," Pelosi said.
"We want to use the power of Medicare to drive down the cost of prescription drugs through negotiation to make it more affordable for Americans to stay healthy and to access those lifesaving drugs," said Rep. Joe Crowley, (D) New York.
Medicare is the largest purchaser of prescription drugs in the nation, covering 60 million seniors and Americans with disabilities, but it is barred by law from directly negotiating lower prices with drugmakers.
Democrats have long favored giving Medicare that power, but Republicans traditionally oppose the idea.
"Specifically, the plan would allow the government to drive down drug prices by negotiating lower prescription drug prices for Medicare, said Rep. David Cicilline, (D) Rhode Island.
"It would require drug manufacturers to release hard data and information justifying any significant increase, and it would crack down on price gouging in a very significant way," he said.

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