CHERYL: CONGRESS HEADED FOR A
SHOWDOWN OVER THE FOOD STAMP
PROGRAM AND WHETHER OR NOT
RECIPIENTS SHOULD HAVE TO WORK
TO GET BENEFITS.
IT'S A FIGHT THAT COULD KILL THE
800 BILLION-DOLLAR FARM BILL.
WILLIAM LA JEUNESSE WITH MORE
FROM LOS ANGELES.
REPORTER: HOW ARE YOU.
THE IMPASSE IS THIS, THE HOUSE
VERSION OF FARM BILL REQUIRES
WHEN THE ECONOMY IMPROVES,
SAYING ONE THING BUT DOING
ANOTHER.
>> WE'VE CREATED ALMOST FOUR
MILLION NEW JOBS SINCE THE
ELECTION.
REPORTER: WITH ENTIRE INDUSTRIES
IS BEGGING FOR WORKERS.
>> THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY IS
LOOKING FOR WORKERS.
REPORTER: THEY WANT WORKERS BACK
ON THE JOBS.
>> MORE JOBS AVAILABLE THAN
ADMINISTRATION OF HYPOCRISY.
PRESIDENT SAYS HE WANTS
ABLE-BODIED ADULTS FOR FOOD
STAMPS THAT IS NOT WHAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS
DOING.
WAIVING WORK REQUIREMENTS IN 33
STATES.
>> THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN
AUTOPILOT FOR YEARS.
BRAKES, DO NOT DO THIS ANYMORE.
REPORTER: WHY?
THE RECESSION IS OVER.
UNEMPLOYMENT, THE BLUE LINE AT
RECORD LOW.
WHILE FOOD STAMP ENROLLMENT
REMAINS STUBBORNLY OR NOT.
>> IT IS HARD TO GET A JOB
ABLE-BODIED OR NOT.
REPORTER: CALIFORNIA HAS 500,000
JOB OPENINGS, AND MORE THAN
800,000 ABLE-BODIED ADULTS.
THEY ASKED FOR A WAIVER TO SO
THEY WOULD NOT WORK.
>> I ASKED HOW WE CAN DENY THE
WAIVERS.
WE HAVE STATUTORILY PREVENTED
FROM DENYING WAIVERS IF THEY
REQUIRE THEM.
REPORTER: MICHIGAN, WHICH HAS
HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT RATE,
REINSTATED ITS WORK REQUIREMENT,
PROGRAM.
BUT THE IMPASSE IF YOU WILL IS
OVER THIS WORK REQUIREMENT.
DOES THE USDA HAVE THE AUTHORITY
TO SAY NO.
RIGHT NOW THAT IS IN QUESTION.
