House panel OKs food-stamp cutbacks

WASHINGTON — The House Agriculture Committee approved budget cuts Friday that would take food stamps away from an estimated 300,000 people and could cut off school lunches and breakfasts for 40,000 children.

The action came as the government reported that the number of people who are hungry because they can't afford to buy enough food rose to 38.2 million in 2004, an increase of 7 million in five years. The number represents nearly 12 percent of U.S. households.

"If there are cuts to be made, why should we make them on food stamps?" said Rep. David Scott, D-Ga. "This is the meanest cut of all."

The cuts, approved by the Republican-controlled committee on a party-line vote, are part of an effort by the House GOP to curb federal spending by $50 billion. The food and agriculture cuts would reduce spending by $3.7 billion, including $844 million on nutrition, $760 million on conservation and $212 million on payments to farmers.

"The fact is, our country is going broke," said Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio. "We're spending money we don't have and passing it onto our kids, and at some point, somebody's got to say, 'Enough's enough.' "

The $574 million reduction in food-stamp spending would affect families that receive food stamps because they receive other noncash government assistance.

The restriction could take free meals away from an estimated 40,000 schoolchildren, because children in many states are automatically eligible for school meals when they get food stamps, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Parks to lie in honor on Sunday, Monday

The House agreed by voice vote Friday that the body of Rosa Parks will lie in honor in the Rotunda on Sunday and Monday "so that the citizens of the United States may pay their last respects to this great American." The Senate approved the resolution Thursday night.

In death, Parks becomes the first woman and one of the few people, including presidents and war heroes, accorded a public viewing in the Capitol Rotunda. It's where, six years ago, President Clinton and congressional leaders lauded the former seamstress for a simple act of defiance that changed the course of race relations.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people packed the historic Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala., Friday to remember Parks, 92, who died Monday at her home in Detroit. She ignited the Montgomery bus boycott and the modern civil-rights movement on Dec. 1, 1955, when she refused to give up her seat on a city bus to a white man.

DeLay case: Liberal leader subpoenaed

A Texas prosecutor has subpoenaed the head of a liberal activist group and records of political contributions from mostly Republican state judges in advance of a hearing Tuesday to decide who should preside over former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's criminal case.

Prosecutor Ronnie Earle on Friday subpoenaed Eli Pariser, executive director of MoveOn.org, a liberal group that took an active role in the last presidential campaign and generally opposes Republicans and their policies.

DeLay's attorney, Dick DeGuerin, requested the removal of state Judge Bob Perkins because the judge has made 34 contributions since 2000 to Democratic and liberal groups, including MoveOn.org, which has waged a campaign against DeLay. Perkins' largest contribution was a $1,000 donation to the Travis County Democratic Party in 2002.

DeLay, a Republican, has been accused of money laundering and conspiracy in a three-year investigation led by Earle, a Democrat. His request to have Perkins removed from his case will be decided by another judge after Tuesday's hearing.

Windfall tax urged on oil profits

Republicans stepped up their criticism of the oil industry's profits Friday as the head of the Senate Budget Committee called for a windfall oil-profit tax to help poor Americans pay home-heating bills this winter.

Judd Gregg, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said he was concerned that U.S. oil companies were reporting record-high profits when some families will be unable to pay their natural-gas and home-heating-oil bills.

Gregg said he would "pursue options in this area" in coming weeks.

Compiled from The Associated Press and Reuters