House To Vote On Cutting Back On Food Stamps

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is poised to vote on nearly $4 billion in annual cuts in food stamps, now used by 1 in 7 Americans.

House Republican leaders were still working for support as they scheduled a vote on the measure for Thursday. Some GOP moderates questioned the roughly 5 percent cut in the almost $80 billion-a-year program as Democrats united strongly against it.

The bill's savings would be achieved by allowing states to put broad new work requirements in place for many food stamp recipients and to test applicants for drugs. The bill also would end government waivers that have allowed able-bodied adults who don't have dependents to receive food stamps indefinitely.

The White House has threatened a veto of the measure.