Posted on 12/11/2013 1:21:25 PM PST by Kaslin
Inquiring minds are digging into the alleged "Draconian Cuts" in Food Stamps as championed by the Daily Koz. Of course the Daily Koz is not alone in whining about "draconian" cuts.
Note: The food stamp program is now called "SNAP" Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
"The Unthinkable"
On December 5, Greg Kaufmann, writer for The Nation wondered Why Is a Senate Democrat Agreeing to Another $8 Billion in Food Stamp Cuts?
On the same day that President Obama eloquently described his vision of an economy defined by economic mobility and opportunity for all, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow was busy cutting a deal with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas to slice another $8 to $9 billion from food stamps (SNAP), according to a source close to the negotiations.
“That was the first time in history that a Democratic-controlled Senate had even proposed cutting the SNAP program,” said Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger. “The willingness of some Senate Democrats to double new cuts to the program…is unthinkable.”
Mother Jones Says "Kill the Farm Bill Entirely"
Bitching and moaning would not be complete without Mother Jones getting in on the act. On November 12, Mother Jones proposed House Dems Can Block GOP Food Stamp Cuts—by Killing the Farm Bill
The food stamps program—which helps feed 1 in 7 Americans—is in peril. Republicans in the House have proposed a farm bill—the five-year bill that funds agriculture and nutrition programs—that would slash food stamps by $40 billion. But by taking advantage of House Republicans' desire to cut food stamps as much as possible, Democrats might be able to prevent cuts from happening at all.
To pull it off, Democrats would have to derail the farm bill entirely, which would maintain food stamp funding at current levels.
Where's the Beef?
On December 10, The Tennessean more evenly covers the issue in its report TN House Republicans back $40 billion in food stamp cuts.
The future of food stamps — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — remains the largest sticking point in House-Senate negotiations to finalize a new farm bill before the end of the year.
In September, the House approved a farm bill that cuts almost $40 billion from food stamps over 10 years — about 5 percent a year. The Senate earlier approved a bill that would cut $4 billion over that time.
At $80 billion a year, food stamps remain the single costliest item in the farm bill. The program serves almost 48 million Americans and 1.34 million Tennesseans — about 20 percent of the state population.
Among House members from Tennessee, all but Reps. Jim Cooper of Nashville and Steve Cohen of Memphis — the two Democrats in the state’s congressional delegation — voted for the bill making $40 billion in cuts.
Groups such as the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal-leaning Washington think tank, say cuts of that magnitude would result in denying benefits to 3.8 million low-income Americans in 2014.
“Those who would be thrown off the program include some of the nation’s most destitute adults, as well as many low-income children, seniors and families that work for low wages,” the CBPP said in an analysis of the House bill. “The House SNAP bill is harsh.”
Rep. John Duncan, R-Knoxville, complained that administrators of the program “have no incentive to keep people off.”
“They will get bigger offices, staffs and funding if even more people get food stamps,” he said.
Close Inspection of "Draconian" Cuts
Please note that the alleged $40 billion in cuts is really only $4 billion in a close to $80 billion program. They arrive at $40 billion by multiplying $4 billion by 10 years.
OK Fine. The cuts then are $40 billion in an $800 billion program. And I actually doubt we will ever see those "cuts" in the first place.
A few charts from reader Tim Wallace will help explain.
SNAP Growth in Benefits
click on any chart for sharper image
SNAP Benefit Facts
SNAP Participation
SNAP Participation Facts
SNAP Per Person Benefits
SNAP Per Person Benefits Facts
Supposedly a 5% cut is draconian.
The Problem
As is typical with government programs, there is no incentive by the administrators to eliminate waste or fraud.
The more funding for food stamps, the bigger the salaries and staffs of the administrators.
I suggest that we need a way to provide necessary safety-net benefits while simultaneously providing an incentive to get off the program and get a job.
I repeat my proposal.
Mish SNAP Proposal
My proposal will not only lower the cost of the food stamp program, the resultant healthier diets would lower Medicaid and Medicare costs as well.
Moreover, my proposal would give people a strong incentive to get off the food stamp program without intrusive, costly big-brother ideas like drug testing which cannot possibly work for the simple reason that anyone who fails will steal to get food rather than starve.
Give him 10% of the savings. That and get the illegals off. Around half of all welfare in CA goes to illegals. Probably not as bad in the rest of the US but still significant.
Well they do subsidize heating oil. But the libs hate cars. They give poor people public transit passes.
Excellent point on the lib attitude toward personal transportation.
Not their own, of course.
“But I drive a Prius!”
But what about all those American jobs that will be sent to Mars when your comet bombardment works?
Forget all that, if we are going to have taxpayers support people do it the old fashioned way. Set up “poor farms” or “poorhouses” where those who cannot support themselves go and live in very spartan conditions enjoying only the bare necessities of life, food, clothing and shelter. Anyone who is able should be required to work and or learn until they are capable of supporting themselves. No one should be given cash income by the government and a card that can be swiped to buy food is in essence cash income. In my area there is a constant traffic in half price groceries bought with EBT cards and sold to raise cash for other things. Obviously someone is getting assisstance they don’t really need if they can afford to sell their bennes for half price.
Transportation costs from Mars will be pretty high. We'll worry about that when they figure out how to instantly transport stuff or control wormholes.
Besides, it's not like Mars is an overpopulated Communist nation either.
Clearly. When you've got a mom and three kids getting over $600 a month in SNAP, plus WIC, plus the kids get free breakfast and lunch at school 5 days a week (and in some places food sent home for the weekends), it's real easy to sell the bennies for half price and still have enough to be obese. Of course, your solution would do a lot toward solving the obesity problem, too, wouldn't it?
Tell us all why Obama is putting up and paying for billboards close to the Mexican border telling those who’s proper residence is SOUTH of our border that they can apply for food stamps?
IF it so expensive to feed out own citizens, why are we trying to add Mexicans who don’t live here???
I know quite a few people who would qualify for food stamps, but they are NOT asking for such.
Thass raciss!
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Hey! Hey! A little respect here! Lamar Alexander is, and was at one time, Newsweek's reserve grand-champion example of an American Mandarin, born to rule by the grace of Harvard, educated and equipped to be our Better. Never held an honest paying job in his life, always in public service as a Permanent Ruling Class lotus-eater, the subtleties of our lives to clarify and ordain.
You all backed up yet, hardscrabble?
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I’ve lived in TN nearly 30 yrs, all you hear in politics is how great this RINO is, you never hear that he is a RINO, until lately. He is like cohen in memphis, the same could be said about him as you so aptly described lamar. Went from college to work for the gov’t then onto the State Senate for 20 yrs, now he’s a US Rep, who because of the demographics of his district CANNOT BE VOTED OUT, not even by a black woman! Just because she is a CONSERVATIVE GOP.
I don’t drink either parties koolaid! I vote 2 things Bible and Constitution. U don’t meet those standards, I’ll do a write in. and work to vote your behind out if you don’t live up to what you took a oath to...rubio you are on that list.
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