House Democrats oppose using food stamp money to pay for child nutrition bill

The Senate’s $4.5 billion child nutrition bill, a recent milestone in Michelle Obama’s campaign to end childhood obesity, faces opposition from some Democrats in the House because it would take funds set aside for the food stamp program.

In a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, written by Representatives James McGovern of Massachusetts and Keith Ellison of Minnesota, 106 Democrats ask that their version of the child nutrition bill be taken up for consideration instead of the Senate’s, as theirs does not slash food stamp funding.

Food stamp funds took a hit last week to help pay for a $26 billion state aid package to bolster Medicaid and education funding.

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