Posted on 09/20/2013 1:29:05 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chairs Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) and CPC Whip Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) voted against the Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act of 2013, H.R. 3102, a Republican bill to drastically cut nutrition programs. ....
“Some of my Republican colleagues want to cut food assistance for needy families instead of closing business tax loopholes as a way to save money,” said Rep. Grijalva. “There's a basic question of fairness and who our country looks out for here. If you think more corporate tax cuts are the answer, go ahead and say so, but don't take food out of children's mouths while you're doing it.”
“Food assistance for working families fulfills a promise we make to each other: if you fall on hard times, your neighbors, friends and fellow Americans will help you get a meal,” Rep. Ellison said. “Eighteen companies dodged $92 billion in taxes last year, which is more than double the cut passed by Republicans today. Let’s cut corporate waste, not meals for our nation’s children.”
“The proposed $40 billion in cuts to our nation’s first line of defense against hunger, SNAP, are heartless, unbelievable, and immoral,” Rep. Barbara Lee said. “We cannot balance our budget on the backs of our country’s children, seniors, veterans, and disabled. As a former recipient of public assistance, I know that I would not be where I am today if it were not for the vital lifeline that was extended to me by the American people. SNAP serves as a bridge over troubled waters, and at a time when we are still recovering from the Great Recession, we must protect our nation’s vulnerable, not push them aside.” ....
Congressman Ron Barber was also critical in a press release:
“In Southern Arizona, more than 1 in 4 children are living in families that struggle to put enough food on the table. We should not be trying to balance the budget by taking more food from their mouths,” Barber said today. “Arizona is the nation’s third-highest state for food insecurity. As families struggle to recover from the economic downturn, it is unconscionable for us to be making it more difficult for millions of Americans to eat.”
Am I correct in assuming that this was a cut in the rate of growth for the program?
radiation shrinks cancer
In their world, hardworking Americans who are struggling to make ends meet, have to pay for their own food as well as be taxed to pay for food of others. And, it’s invalid for the taxpayers to not like this setup or try to change it through the electoral process.
Can’t quite get the notion that food stamps are for food, not champagne, caviar, lottery tickets, and televisions.
As a former recipient of public assistance, I know that I would not be where I am today if it were not for the vital lifeline that was extended to me by the American people.
All the more reason to cut it off!!
Yep, here’s this old canard again.. The GOP wants to cut food stamps because the GOP wants people to starve.
Anecdotal evidence is that many among our poor are getting plenty to eat.
How is it that if you want to cut any government program spending, that somehow you are in favor of disasters striking the beneficiaries of those programs? Because Paul Ryan wants to do something about Medicare spending, he really wants to throw Grandma off a cliff? Why do liberals demagogue this crap, and why do they get away with that???
Why, they might do something drastic! (like vote for the incumbents' opponents!)
What will happen is that food companies will lobby the congresscritters to have their products added to the "approved" list, so there is something in it for them. And we will end up with at least a way to curb people from buying lobsters, etc., using food stamp benefits.
The program has doubled over the last few years. This is a 5% cut and it appears there are simply conditions attached (no bums allowed) and better economic control.
$40 billion over ten years or $4 billion a year. We spend about $80 billion a year on food stamps (2012). We can certainly cut 5% out of the program, which has grown exponentially. It is beset by fraud and abuse.
I believe that here in NY, the welfare cards can no longer be used in casinos.
The #1 health concern of those in poverty? Obesity.
Just say it over and over.
Cutbacks to freebies and handouts make it tougher for ‘RATS like Grijalva and Barber to get reelected. I can understand why they’re upset.
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3899
Republicans would be wise to get out in front of this and expand the benefits. I doubt they will and getting pegged with "cutting" this program will hurt them at election time.
Neither party has a clue about what's wrong with the economy. So both parties are avoiding talking about unemployment. Meanwhile the off-shoring continues at full speed. The way to cut benefits like this is to get people working again.
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3899
Republicans would be wise to get out in front of this and expand the benefits. I doubt they will and getting pegged with "cutting" this program will hurt them at election time.
Neither party has a clue about what's wrong with the economy. So both parties are avoiding talking about unemployment. Meanwhile the off-shoring continues at full speed. The way to cut benefits like this is to get people working again.
The people don’t want to work. They want life off with pay. Full benefits is equivalent to earning $50,000. But no production is required.
These types of government men and women are what weakens our liberties and our government. VOTE THEM OUT!!!
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