Trump attacks Dems on farm bill

President Trump on Thursday lashed out at Democrats for their opposition to the farm bill, claiming they are “fighting tooth and nail to not allow our Great Farmers to get what they so richly deserve.” 

{mosads}In a tweet, the president specifically targeted Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), the ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, saying “Dems are a NO” on the bill while noting their pushback on work requirements for food stamp recipients.

“Senator Debbie Stabenow and the Democrats are totally against approving the Farm Bill,” Trump tweeted. “They are fighting tooth and nail to not allow our Great Farmers to get what they so richly deserve. Work requirements are imperative and the Dems are a NO. Not good!” 

Senator Debbie Stabenow and the Democrats are totally against approving the Farm Bill. They are fighting tooth and nail to not allow our Great Farmers to get what they so richly deserve. Work requirements are imperative and the Dems are a NO. Not good!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018

Conferees deliberating over the farm bill in recent days have struggled to reach a compromise, with Democrats opposing language that would strengthen the work requirements. 

The House-passed version of the legislation would make it more difficult for states to waive work requirements for participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food stamps for low-income Americans.

Democrats have pushed back hard against these additions, arguing Republicans are attacking food assistance programs necessary to help low-income Americans.

But House Republicans have said they’re optimistic an agreement will be reached.

“Yes, I think there’ll be some changes to the work requirements, but we’re getting very close,” Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) told The Hill, adding he thinks Democrats will be amenable to the supporting the bill.

Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) dismissed Republican assertions there is abuse in the SNAP system, arguing the majority of the programs’ recipients are employed.

“We are not [supportive] because what we know is that they’ve not been honest about work — more than 75 percent of the people who receive SNAP and who are eligible to work, who are physically able to work do work,” Fudge said to The Hill. “They would make you think that all of these people are out here not working — it’s just not true.”

Trump has previously urged House and Senate lawmakers to adopt strict work requirements for food stamps in the farm bill.

Stabenow responded with a tweet of her own noting that the Senate had passed a farm bill with a bipartisan 86 votes. 

“In case you missed it, the Senate passed a bipartisan #FarmBill that got 86 votes – the most ever,” Stabenow tweeted. “I’m not letting politics distract me from working across the aisle to finalize a good bill that will deliver certainty for farmers and families in Michigan and across the country.”

In case you missed it, the Senate passed a bipartisan #FarmBill that got 86 votes – the most ever. I’m not letting politics distract me from working across the aisle to finalize a good bill that will deliver certainty for farmers and families in Michigan and across the country.

— Sen. Debbie Stabenow (@SenStabenow) September 13, 2018

The Michigan Democrat is currently up for reelection in a race that Cook Political Report has labeled “likely Democrat.”

Updated at 3:43 p.m.