"The surprise defeat of the farm bill in the House on Thursday underscored the ideological divide between the more conservative, antispending Republican lawmakers and their leadership, who failed to garner sufficient votes from their caucus as well as from Democrats."
"The vote against the bill, 234 to 195, comes a year after House leaders pulled the measure off the calendar because conservative lawmakers demanded deeper cuts in the food stamp program and Democrats objected. This year’s measure called for more significant cuts than the Senate bill, but it still did not go far enough to get a majority in the House to support an overhaul of the nation’s food and farm programs. Sixty-two Republicans, or more than a quarter of the caucus, voted with Democrats to defeat the bill.
The failure was a stinging defeat for Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio, who continues to have trouble marshaling the Republican support he needs to pass major legislation. Without the solid backing of his party, Mr. Boehner has to rely on some Democratic support, which deserted him Thursday."
Ron Nixon reports for the New York Times June 20, 2013.
SEE ALSO:
"House Farm Bill Suffers Stunning Defeat as Finger Pointing Begins" (National Journal)
"U.S. House Rejects $500 Billion Farm Bill" (Gannett/USA TODAY)
"The House Farm Bill Unexpectedly Failed. So What Happens Next?" (Washington Post/WonkBlog)
"House Sinks the Latest Version of the Farm Bill" (Mother Jones)
"House Deals Shock Defeat To Republican Farm Bill" (Reuters)
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