Texas has worst-ranked food stamp program (see photo)

Houston Chronicle ^ | 01/13/2010 | GARY SCHARRER

[cbkaty]

AUSTIN — Texas has the worst performing food stamp program in the nation, the federal director for food assistance told state officials here Tuesday.

It ranks last among the 50 states and U.S. territories in processing food stamp applications and also does a poor job getting eligible low-income people to apply, said Kevin Concannon, a U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary, in an earlier meeting with reporters.

And because Texas does not even come close to the national average in enrolling those eligible, grocery retailers like H-E-B and Randalls are missing out on nearly $1 billion a year in food sales, he said.

“If I were a native son sitting down here, I would be very upset that my state was not the leader that it is capable of being,” Concannon said.

[gimme1ibertee]

My solution for reducing the welfare rolls:
When a person applies for "assistance", they MUST enter into a contract stating that their "assistance" is contingent on the following:
They understand that their "assistance" is only in force for two years;
if they become pregnant,or get married within that contract period,their "assistance" is terminated;
they as a condition of the contract,will receive child care for the period of the contract;
they will,as a condition of the contract,MUST enroll in a job training or adult education program (a commuter card will be issued that is restricted to the hours and days that the applicant goes to school) and complete that program successfully,or assistance will be terminated;
thirty days after employment is secured,the contract will become null and void and all services terminated,and the person will NOT be eligible for assistance at any time after that.
It could work....but no one's crazy enough to go with it.It would wipe out a HUGE voter base.

[MamaTexan]

And because Texas does not even come close to the national average in enrolling those eligible, grocery retailers like H-E-B and Randalls are missing out on nearly $1 billion a year in food sales, he said.

BS!

Grocery stores are only compensated a percentage of the cost for groceries, JUST LIKE doctors are compensated for only a portion of their fees for Medicare/ Medicaid.

The stores aren't missing out on food sales, they're keeping prices lower for everyone else, you socialist SCMUCK!

[Grunthor]

Texas has the worst performing food stamp program in the nation, the federal director for food assistance told state officials here Tuesday.

It ranks last among the 50 states and U.S. territories in processing food stamp applications and also does a poor job getting eligible low-income people to apply, said Kevin Concannon, a U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary, in an earlier meeting with reporters.

And because Texas does not even come close to the national average in enrolling those eligible, grocery retailers like H-E-B and Randalls are missing out on nearly $1 billion a year in food sales, he said.

---

So wait a f*cking minute here. This reminds me of something I heard about liberals/conservatives years ago.

Liberals see compassion by how many people are on government assisstance while conservatives see compassion by how many don’t NEED IT.

This federal director is an idiot liberal....but I repeat myself.

[MrB]

It could be that the photogs are of the mindset that there is no problem, no inconsistency, with the “poor people” in their photographs having obvious disposable income for non-necessities.

[cbkaty]

The attraction of free Obama Money.....I see a cell phone or two in this pix too....I'd post a drug/cell phone-sniffing dog at all welfare offices...BWAHAHAHAHA

[jdub]

And because Texas does not even come close to the national average in enrolling those eligible, grocery retailers like H-E-B and Randalls are missing out on nearly $1 billion a year in food sales, he said.

Idiot. Is he really suggesting that because they don't have food stamps, they aren't eating? the pics suggest otherwise. Man I hate stupid people.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

No one in the photo looks like they are under fed. I would assume the Food Stamp program is working perfectly!

[Hodar]

Maybe the right response is not that Texans are performing poorly in maxing out the dole, but that they have more than the average amount of pride and self-reliance.

Bump!!!

[cbkaty]

It could be that the photogs are of the mindset that there is no problem, no inconsistency, with the “poor people” in their photographs having obvious disposable income for non-necessities.

Bingo...go to the head of the class....

[NativeNewYorker]

“If I were a native son sitting down here, I would be very upset...” Concannon said."

Did he say NATIVE?

RACIST!

/sarc

[MrB]

There is also another mindset among libs that we cannot fathom. They don’t care how many people are scamming the system, or how much fraud there is, or how much abuse.

The goal is 100% coverage of those who need assistance.

Of course, their ideology inherently rejects the idea of “tradeoffs” in favor of the unachievable utopia of compromise-free solutions.

[Chickensoup]

Are you kidding, some of the states like mine, advertise on television. Gotta feed the serpent

[pepperdog]

The mind set of this article is repulsive to responsible people.

[Scotsman will be Free]

There is a disturbing similarity vis a vis the complexion of the folks in the photos.

[cbkaty]

The mind set of this article is repulsive to responsible people.

Front Page News in the Houston Comical...more editorials on the front page insures this newspaper's demise.

There is a Governor's race in the making...and their candidate must be promoted by any means....

[tbw2]

I wonder how many of those they deem eligible but are not signed up are not citizens.

[cbkaty]

Every picture tells a story....

[Former MSM Viewer]

“...If I were a native son sitting down here, I would be very upset that my state was not the leader that it is capable of being,” Kevin Concannon said....”

Yeah well, Concannon, you just stay where you are. We dont want to be leaders in handing out government aid

[Grunthor]

“There is a disturbing similarity vis a vis the complexion of the folks in the photos.”

There are more white faces in that crowd than any other. And yes, that IS disturbing.

[Chickensoup]

My solution is this:

Stop calling it assistance, call it charity.

Charity-food
Charity-care
Charity-check.

NO one is going to like me, but I include SS, SSDI, Medicare and the like as charity.

Help people remember where the monies come from.

Help to have it be a shame and embarrassment to generation.