By Paul Morello

NORMAL - U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock thinks a Farm Bill could pass after the November election.

The bill is deadlocked in the House, with disagreement about the bill's treatment of the food stamp program.

"President Obama's plan would basically automatically enroll you in the food stamp program," Schock said Tuesday. "We don't think that's the right approach. We think the right approach is to say if you meet the certain income and asset requirements as specified by federal law, that's when you would get food stamps."

Schock attended the McLean County Chamber of Commerce's Elected Officials reception at the Uptown Station Tuesday night.

"Once the food stamp program is resolved, the Farm Bill can pass," he said.

The bill will expire Sep. 30. The Senate has refused to pass short-term extensions.

Government funding continues

Meanwhile, Schock said despite the passage of a six-month government funding plan recently, the big decision is yet to come.

Schock said the plan funds day-to-day operations but a combination of automatic spending cuts and tax hikes are still looming in January.

"After the election, we're going to have a big decision to vote to raise the debt limit," he said. "And that's really where we're going to have to resolve the issue we haven't resolved, which is our entitlement programs, namely Medicare and social security."

The House has passed spending bills, but the Democrat-controlled Senate has yet to pass a plan.

Paul Morello can be reached at paul.morello@cumulus.com.