GOP lawmaker proposes blocking food stamps for terrorists

The Hill ^ | 2 Feb 2016 | By Cristina Marcos

[11th_VA]

New legislation introduced in the House this week would disqualify convicted terrorists for food stamp eligibility.

The measure authored by freshman Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-Maine) would expand existing statute that already bans Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for felons with drug convictions unless states choose to waive the restrictions.

The latest farm bill enacted in 2014 further blocks nutrition assistance eligibility for people convicted of violent crimes like murder or rape if they aren’t complying with the terms of their sentence.

“Terrorist victims and their families should never be forced to fund those who harmed them,” Poliquin said in a statement. The measure offered by Poliquin, who is considered one of the most vulnerable House GOP incumbents in this year’s election cycle, ties into legislative efforts on national security, which has remained a top issue throughout the 2016 campaign after the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif.

“This has nothing to do with politics,” Poliquin told the Bangor Daily News when asked about how the proposal plays into his reelection prospects. “I cannot imagine that I’m going to be able to find a taxpayer in our 2nd District that wants to use his or her federal tax dollars to buy food stamps for accomplices to terrorist attacks here in America.”

[11th_VA]

I can hear it now, "Why punish the children ..."

[eyeamok]

Block Food Stamps for EVERYONE and setup Soup Kitchens, then see how the Obama Economy looks

[Sooth2222]

"Poliquin acknowledged in the interview that he did not know of any actual cases of terror convicts receiving food stamps, but said he wanted his measure to prevent such a scenario from happening in the future."

Same logic applies to the AWB 2.0 and magazine restrictions. "We need to do it, because something might happen!"

[lesko]

That a law even needs to be proposed for something like this shows how truly screwed this country is becoming.

[SunkenCiv]

"ISLAMOPHOBES!!!"

[ColdOne]

disqualify convicted terrorists.......What?? ..... Poliquin acknowledged in the interview that he did not know of any actual cases of terror convicts receiving food stamps, but said he wanted his measure to prevent such a scenario from happening in the future........exactly my first question, how often has this happened? My second question.....since when does teamobama let his sharia pals get convicted? Not to many times.

[concerned about politics]

New legislation introduced in the House this week would disqualify convicted terrorists for food stamp eligibility.

Uh...what? Shouldn't they be in prison anyway? What are they doing out on the streets?

[TribalPrincess2U]

and all those wives

[MrBambaLaMamba]

Aren’t the terrorists already fed at the mosques?

[spintreebob]

Also block welfare to those enabling workplace violence.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Good idea!

[leaning conservative]

I was thinking the exact same thing, just hadn’t formed the words. Thanks

[~Peter]

Blocking food stamps for convicted terrorist seems a bit severe ...

Perhaps we should just let them know that we're really miffed and leave it at that.