Shilling criticizes GOP farm bill and projected impacts on Wisconsin

Criticism coming over a Republican farm bill in Washington that would impose new work and job training requirements for federal food stamps.

A Legislative Fiscal Bureau analysis of the bill finds it could force 75,720 Wisconsin recipients out of the program, including  23,369 children, who would likely lose food stamp eligibility and, with it, automatic eligibility for free and reduced school lunches.

In La Crosse County, 1,449 people, including 470 children, would lose SNAP. You can view each county here.

“No children should have to be forced to go hungry, and we certainly shouldn’t be denying children access to nutrition simply to expand tax breaks for the wealthy,” state Senate minority leader and La Crosse Democrat Jennifer Shilling said.

“It’s bad enough that Republicans have fought to give millionaires yet another tax break this season but then to turn around and deny low income children access to food — it’s unthinkable,” Shilling continued. “I don’t know how Republican politicians can justify these horribly misplaced priorities that favor the wealthy at the expense of vulnerable children.”

Wisconsin currently has 692,924 food stamp recipients. According to the report, 11.1 percent of Wisconsin food stamp recipients would likely lose eligibility.