Congressman Austin Scott, R-Ga., speaks on the U.S. House floor in support of the farm bill reforms.

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

The Tifton Grapevine

In a surprise development, the U.S. House dramatically defeated the 2013 farm bill Thursday afternoon with some conservative Republicans joining many Democrats to stop the $940 billion proposal.

 In a 195-234 vote, the House defeated the bill after considering more than 100 amendments. Some Democrats opposed the bill because of $20.5 billion in cuts to the food stamp program, while some Republicans believed the bill was too costly and did not have enough reductions.

After the vote, leaders of both parties traded barbs, blaming the other political party for the defeat. The Senate last week approved its version of the farm bill with about a fifth of the cuts in the House bill. President Obama has threatened a veto if the deep food stamp cuts remained.

Food stamps, now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or "SNAP," cost almost $80 billion last year, twice the amount it cost five years ago, according to USA Today. 

The White House issued a statement earlier this week saying that food stamps are "a cornerstone of our nation's food assistance safety net." The administration suggested that reductions instead could be made to farm subsidies such as crop insurance.

• Wiregrass Farmers Market, 9 a.m., Georgia Museum of Agriculture, Tifton.
• Downtown Farmers Market, 9 a.m., Old Train Platform, Tifton.
• Tiftarea Coin Show, 9 a.m., Conference Center, Georgia Museum of Agriculture, Tifton.
• Adam Smith performs on the patio, 6:30 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, Tifton.