Lugar Opposes Giving States Control Over Food Stamps

The chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee changed course Friday and announced he would not support efforts to give states control over the food stamp program, which provides nutrition aid to 27 million poor Americans.

Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.) instead unveiled a plan to save more than $18 billion from nutrition programs over five years, keeping food stamps a federal responsibility but giving states new flexibility and cutting monthly benefits.

Unlike a House-passed welfare reform plan that has been harshly criticized by Democrats, Lugar’s proposal would not give states authority over the school lunch program or make changes in the Women, Infants and Children feeding program.

“I changed my mind. The evidence was largely that [a food stamps block grant] would not be a good idea,” Lugar told reporters, saying he was concerned that a lump sum to states would not allow them to meet increased need during an economic recession.

While admitting second thoughts, Lugar, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, also lacked a majority on his committee for block grants. Further, President Clinton has threatened to veto any food stamps block grant.

Lugar, whose committee must cut about $28 billion from crop supports and nutrition programs over the next five years to meet Republican balanced-budget plans, warned that his proposal was not the final word on nutrition spending.

Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) said he would vote against Lugar’s plan in committee next week and may offer amendments to end farm supports for wealthy farmers, saying two-thirds of farm supports go to farms with net worths above $300,000. The government spent more than $8 billion last year on crop supports and well over $34 billion on nutrition aid.

“If I have to choose between very wealthy farm interests and needy children, I am going to pick children every time,” Leahy said.

Lugar’s plan cuts food stamp inflation adjustments, requires recipients age 18 to 50 to work and lets some states offer benefits in cash.