John Mason is reporting in the Register Star the U.S. Farm Bill was passed by the Senate with a 68-32 vote Tues., Feb. 4, and sent on to President Barack Obama for signature. U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson voted in favor of the bill in the Jan. 29 House of Representatives vote. Sen. Charles Schumer voted for the bill because of the wide range of programs it supports for state residents. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said she could not vote for the bill because of thet $8.6 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, over the next 10 years. Gillibrand said, “Only in Washington could a final bill that doubles the already egregious cuts to hungry families, while somehow not creating any (more) additional savings than originally proposed, be called progress.” Tina Sharpe, executive director of Columbia Opportunities, said there are 3,605 households and 6,314 persons receiving food stamps in Columbia County. The average household will lose $30 to $50 a month, or 20 to 33 meals, under the provisions of the bill, she said. Read the full story in the Register Star.