Needs, norms, and food policy in the U.S. House of Representatives

This article investigates the influence of partisanship, religion, and district need on legislative behavior pertaining to food policy. Historically, policymaking is this area has been decidedly bipartisan, because it provided opportunities for logrolling among legislators. As the parties became more ideologically polarized and as budget pressures mounted, some suggested the food coalition would break down. To test this argument, this article analyzes legislative behavior on food and agriculture measures in the U.S. House of Representatives in 106th Congress. The findings indicate that while party, ideology, religion, and district need all affect legislative behavior, there is still a bipartisan majority coalition of legislators that supports food assistance.

► We investigate legislative behavior regarding food policy in the U.S. House.
► A bipartisan coalition of legislators supported food assistance.
► However, Democrats and liberals were the most supportive of food programs.
► Legislators from poorer and more rural districts were also strongly supportive.
► In one model, Catholics were more likely to support food programs than non-Catholics.