Lawmakers who cite Bible to back food-stamp cuts have received millions in farm subsidies, critics note

Doug LaMalfa

U.S. Reps. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.) and Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) are under fire for citing the Bible to support cuts to food assistance programs after accepting millions of dollars in farm subsidies, another part of the Farm Bill.

The pair say that while Christians have a responsibility to feed the poor, the federal government does not, reports Arthur Delaney for the Huffington Post. Last year LaMalfa received $188,570 in farm subsidies and Fincher $70,574. Since 1995, LaMalfa has received more than $5 million, and Fincher more than $3 million, according to the Environmental Working Group.

Stephen Fincher

In quoting the Bible in defense of cuts, Fincher said, "If anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either," and LaMalfa said, "By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast,"  Delaney and Jaweed Kaleen report.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) defended LaMalfa and Fincher, saying that are not hypocrites, reports Erik Wasson for The Hill: "Lucas argues that the Farm Bill stops abuse of the food stamp program by closing loopholes like one that allows states to give recipients phony heating aid so they can get food stamps when they would not otherwise qualify."

The House bill cuts $40 billion from farm and nutrition programs over the next 10 years, with $20.5 billion coming from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, The Senate voted to cut $23 billion overall, and $4.1 billion from SNAP, Ron Nixon of The New York Times reports.