Abstract
Recent deliberations on a new farm, food, and rural development bill in the House Agriculture Committee involved Scriptural exegesis:
At both committee meetings, debate over the food stamp cuts was heated, with defenders of the program saying that the bills would take food out of the mouths of children and the elderly. In the House, the discussion turned to the Bible. Rep. Juan Vargas, D-Calif., quoted the Gospel of Matthew in opposing the cuts: “When I was hungry, you gave me food. When I was thirsty, you gave me drink.” In response, several Republicans talked about their Christianity and said the Bible encourages people to help each other but doesn’t dictate what the federal government should do. “We should be doing this as individuals, helping the poor,” said Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., offered an amendment to do away with the cuts that was rejected by the panel. “Christians, Jews, Muslims, whatever—we’re failing our brothers and sisters here,” McGovern said. (Associated Press, May 17, 2013)
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© 2014 Kevin R. den Dulk and Elizabeth A. Oldmixon
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Guth, J.L. (2014). Religion in the American Congress: The Case of the US House of Representatives, 1953–2013. In: den Dulk, K.R., Oldmixon, E.A. (eds) Mediating Religion and Government. Palgrave Studies in Religion, Politics, and Policy. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137389756_6
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