Food stamp fight breaks out on Twitter

Lehrich cited a quote from an article about the subject from conservative publication, National Review, to make his point.

@Lehrich44 First, you realize these are work requirements signed into law by President Clinton, right?

— Rory Cooper (@rorycooper) September 19, 2013

@Lehrich44 Further, you understand that income verification is based on current law – recipients not in poverty, aka hungry @PressSec

— Rory Cooper (@rorycooper) September 19, 2013

House Republicans introduced a food stamp reform bill on Monday that they say would cut $40 billion from the government program over 10 years. The lower chamber is scheduled to vote on it Thursday in the late afternoon.

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) tweeted earlier that the “House will vote today on reforms that strengthens one of our nation’s welfare programs and protects taxpayers.”

On Twitter, Cooper attempted to continue sparring with Lehrich, but received no response.

@Lehrich44 Reforms help current recipients, protect the safety net and protect middle class taxpayers footing bill. @PressSec

— Rory Cooper (@rorycooper) September 19, 2013

@Lehrich44 Can you speak for yourself? Do you think President Clinton was taking food out of the mouths of the hungry? @PressSec

— Rory Cooper (@rorycooper) September 19, 2013

Cantor’s spokesman tweeted again at Lehrich and Carney with a link to a page on the majority leader’s website of a “Myth vs. Fact” outline of the House Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act.

The first says, “the House nutrition bill will drop up to 6 million food stamp recipients off the benefit rolls.”

If the House passes the bill, it’s unclear whether the Senate would take it up that version, and if it does, whether funding levels to nutrition programs would be changed.