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Thom's blog
GOP dooms its own bill to failure
On Thursday, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives managed to kill the $940 billion dollar farm bill. GOP lawmakers were quick to blame Democrats for the failure, because they did not deliver 40 votes. However, Democrats pointed to huge cuts to food assistance, and a poison pill amendment from Florida Representative Steve Southerland as their reasons for voting against the bill.
Congressman Southerland's amendment would have allowed states to subject SNAP recipients to drug-tests, and additional work requirements. Republicans attempted to paint the amendment as beneficial “reform.” But, Democrats noted that the so-called “work requirement” amendment provided no funding for job training, and said it would have unfairly included disabled people and low-income parents of young children.
Fifty-eight of the Republicans who voted against the final bill also voted to accept Representative Southerland's amendment, which they knew Democrats would reject. So, House Republicans doomed the bill they had no intention of supporting, by voting for a poison pill knowing that Democrats wouldn't swallow it. If the GOP leaders had been able to get full support from their own party, the bill would have passed even without any Democratic support. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer rejected the GOP's blame-game, and said, democrats “will take no blame for the failure of the farm bill. None. Zero.”
After the votes were tallied, it was Republican dysfunction that spared our nation's most needy from being hit with these heartless cuts and work requirements. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is now calling on House Speaker John Boehner to bring the Senate-passed version of the farm bill to a vote, saying, “nutrition assistance should not be held hostage to Republican incompetence.” Many Americans rely on the vital food assistance program in the farm bill, but it's anyone's guess as whether House Republicans can get it together.
-Thom
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Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 9pm... Dr. Michael McDonald, Global Resilience Initiatives (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT, and catch past shows on Youtube)
Conversations with Great Minds - Dr. Michael McDonald, Global Resilience Initiatives 
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Thursday's Daily Stack 
Hour One: Wow! MD Goes Holistic - Replaces the GDP w/the GDI
The Big Picture- Nate Sweet, The Big Picture producer
Hour Two: Carbon Tax or Kiss the World Goodbye...for Humans
Geeky Science - why are the birds so angry?
Hour Three: Is China about to fall economically?- Mark Weisbrot, Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR)
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Friday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET
Hour One: It's Friday and that means it's "Brunch With Bernie"... America's Senator...Senator Bernie Sanders will be here talking about all the important issues of the week and he'll be taking your calls too...
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Monday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET
I'll have a conversation with Economist Dr. Richard Wolff, "Democracy At Work," about China's economy...is it about to take a fall...as well as a look at the growing austerity protests in Turkey and Brazil...
Plus, Trayvon Martin's accused killer is on trial with an all female, mostly white jury...what's that about? We'll have an update from our legal expert Debbie Hines of Legal Speaks...
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Thom's Poll
Did House Republicans purposely kill the Farm Bill?
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Watch & Listen to Thom
Time for the Fossil Fuel Industry to Pay for Their Waste...
Crazy Alert! City Council Member Fathers Space Aliens
The Good - The Bad and the Very Very Intersidereally Ugly
Geeky Science - Phone Apps vs. Angry Birds - Really!
Your Take/My Take LIVE - A Dreamer Kid Calls Into Thom
Wow! MD Goes Holistic...Is it time for us to say goodbye to GDP?
Is China about to Economically Fall?
Or watch the Full "Big Picture" Show...
Full Show 6/20/13: Time for the Fossil Fuel Industry to Pay for Their Waste
Thom talks with Economist and author Mark Weisbrot about today's woeful economic news in the U.S. and China and debates Conservative Commentator David Selig on why we put so much emphasis on GDP. Thom takes viewer video questions and phone calls in "Your Take, My Take Live," and in tonight's "Daily Take" Thom discusses how even the banksters are worried about climate change.
Thom Hartmann on the News: June 20, 2013
Watergate: What was on the 18 Minutes of Missing Tape?
Watergate: Why is it Relevant Today?
James Gandolfini: A Loss for the Progressive Movement
Is China about to Economically Fall?
Time for the Fossil Fuel Industry to pay for their Waste
Wow! MD Goes Holistic: Replaces GDP w/ GDI
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