Senate defeats Paul farm amendment limiting payments based on income

An amendment by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) blocking Americans making more than $250,000 in adjusted gross income from receiving any kind of payment from the the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act was defeated Tuesday.

The vote was 15 to 84.

Paul's amendment was one of 73 the Senate is considering for the farm bill (S. 3240). On Tuesday the Senate also defeated two amendments by Sen. Jeff Sessions limiting aspects of the federal food stamp program.

The chamber also approved an amendment by Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) on increasing the frequency of dairy reporting and one by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) meant to incentivize using certain crops for school meals. Cantwell's amendment was approved 58 to 41 and Casey's was approved 73 to 26.

An amendment by Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) that would enforcing states use certain federal payments for food stamps only was approved by voice vote as well.

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