Posted on 11/02/2011 7:43:41 AM PDT by blam
Congress May Tighten Food Stamp Eligibility As Participation Reaches Record Levels
Andrew Shen
Nov. 2, 2011, 9:28 AM
Anti-food stamp Republican Jeff Sessions. Image: AP
Congress is debating ways to tighten food stamp eligibility requirements to cut rising costs, according to Politico.
Costs have been rising due to food price inflation and participation in the program by a record 46 million Americans. Unfortunately this means that Americans need food stamps more than ever.
The Agricultural Department forecasts food prices to go up 3.5 to 4.5 percent, compared to 0.8 percent increases last year.
Meanwhile, the Budget Super Committee has to cut $1.2 trillion from budget deficits in the next ten years, and food stamps look like an easy target. A proposal to cut $23 billion from agriculture and nutrition programs was already submitted last month.
Check out why the UN is warning of another food crisis >
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Here in Atlanta on the local radio stations, commercials were run incessantly encouraging people to apply. ‘You may not even know you qualify’... was the recurring theme.
Here in Atlanta on the local radio stations, commercials were run incessantly encouraging people to apply. ‘You may not even know you qualify’... was the recurring theme.
I was more referring to the 0bama administration’s demonstrated propensity for crafting programs specifically targeted to benefit favored demographics.
Maybe the living in mansions is a stretch. The driving in Cadillacs while collecting food stamps, there’s plenty of that in any upstate NY city. I see it daily. Let’s not forget keeping the windows open all winter because the thermostat’s set to 90.
I was standing in the grocery line, frozen dinners and discounted (sell-by date expiring) meat in hand. In front of me, checking out, was an Hispanic woman with three pudgy kids. Included in her purchase were steaks, ice cream, soda pop, chips, cookies and fresh salmon.
She handed the EBT card to the cashier. The bill totaled over $80. The cashier informed her that the card was $4 over the available credit.
She handed 3 Monster energy drinks back to the cashier.
All during this time, she was texting on her new i-phone.
I saw this woman out in the parking lot, loading her groceries and kids into a newer SUV.
I jumped into my 1992 pickup, my cell with a cracked screen in my pocket, and returned home to microwave and enjoy my TV dinner, still clinging to my dignity and pride. But apparently, that is not worth much these days.
IF you have already donated, this isn't to you, because you already know that Free Republic needs all regular users and members to donate to help keep our lights on.
If you are a regular user but haven't yet donated, today would be a most opportune time. Our 4th Quarter FReepathon is into November and we'd like to wrap it up ASAP.
Please help keep Free Republic's lights on by making your donation today. Simply Click here!
Thanks very much, everyone!
Don’t doubt your story but if any state or retailer is covering “energy drinks” under SNAP they are breaking federal law.
It really isn't since the 2008 Farm Act removed any asset test from the application process.
We are a Welfare Nation where the responsible people will always be expected to pay for the irresponsible people.
The average person has no clue how the ever increasing National Debt affects them. They only care when the Democrats and the Media tell them that the Evil Republicans won't raise the Debt Limit and will take away their Government Checks.
People have relied on Credit Cards for so long that having access to money has nothing to do with saving and sacrificing. The entire dynamic has changed since I was a child back in the 1950’s. Working hard and saving money for a rainy day by putting off things until you can afford them are passe.
People cry about BofA trying to recover costs due to Government Regulation by implementing a $5.00 monthly Debit Card fee have no trouble spending the same amount on a cup of flavored water at Starbucks every day. They pay $400 for a fancy iPhone along with $100 a month service plan and whine about Oil Companies making an 8% profit on gasoline.
Meanwhile they elect Democrats who make it their goal in life to take money away from hard working people to give to their Liberal supporters who are nothing more than envious losers. We give Food Stamp recipients Debit Cards so they won't be “embarrassed” using a paper coupon. Nowadays most people aren't embarrassed at all, they are proud to game the system because they think they deserve things that other people have.
I have always believed that you help people who CAN'T help themselves, not people that WON'T help themselves. Too bad I am a minority in having that viewpoint. My Father always told me “Nobody owes you a living”. I didn't realize how naive his statement was until I started caring about Politics.
Drug test them!!! That would cut the program in at least half.
Being ungrateful is one thing. Thinking it is alright to rip off the taxpayers is another. The program has a long history of abuse.
“May” tighten eligibility? Eliminate it!
Ralph’s in Van Nuys, CA. I am sure they are not alone.
No matter what they drive or where they live, why am I obliged to feed them through my taxes?
I have a moral obligation, of my own making, bible based, to help and I do as much as I can. I just think how much more I could help if the government wouldn't take my money and squander it on the administrative costs of food stamp and other "help the poor" programs and if I could do more on my own, I could also make a personal decision as to which "poor" deserves my help.
He is bleeding us dry.
(And our Republican nomination process is turning into a circus....)
She handed the EBT card to the cashier. The bill totaled over $80. The cashier informed her that the card was $4 over the available credit.
She handed 3 Monster energy drinks back to the cashier. All during this time, she was texting on her new i-phone. I saw this woman out in the parking lot, loading her groceries and kids into a newer SUV.
I jumped into my 1992 pickup, my cell with a cracked screen in my pocket, and returned home to microwave and enjoy my TV dinner, still clinging to my dignity and pride. But apparently, that is not worth much these days.
I've had the exact same experience. I had hamburger helper and top ramen. In line ahead of me, an entire Hispanic family preparing for a big BBQ; huge steaks, potato chips, dip, cokes, all paid with a lone star card - over 100 bucks.
Exception, the "husband" paid for the beer and charcoal with a wad of cash he took out of his pocket. They were still loading up their new astro van, when I got in my 1997 buick with the groceries I hoped would hold out until payday.
Dignity and pride, yes. I have it. And it's worth a lot more than anything a bunch of lazy freeloaders will ever have.
People know that if you have long Bread Lines that times are hard. Surely if such a Bread Line existed today, it would shock people.
Well, 45.8 Million Americans are on Food Stamps. If you made those 45.8 Million people stand in a line like this one, if you were giving out the bread in New York City, the line would stretch, six abreast, all the way across the country to Los Angeles, California.
I saw a line just like that in the 1970’s.
They were handing out government cheese at a local junior high school.
Nope.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.