IBM jobs threatened by farm bill, Pence says
Source: By KEITH ROYSDON, Muncie Star Press (IN), July 27, 2007
MUNCIE -- Hundreds of jobs at a planned IBM call center in Daleville could be lost if Congress passes the 2007 farm bill with language to limit the privatization of state welfare functions, Rep. Mike Pence said Thursday.
The farm bill -- which could come to a House vote before noon today -- has a provision that prohibits states from entering into contracts to privatize some welfare programs, Pence said.
....... The bill's provisions would "mandate that only state employees deal with food-stamp applicants and determine their eligibility," Gannett News Service reported. "It would also prevent states from using federal funds to cancel the private contracts they'd no longer be able to have."