Posted on 11/11/2015 6:57:11 PM PST by markomalley
Crowds gathered in New Orleans to protest Tuesday against a plan by Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal to reinstate food stamp work-requirements.
The federal government has required work or job training to qualify for benefits since 1996. After the recession, many states were granted waivers that allowed them to ignore the requirements. With the improved economy, several states have decided to not request their waiver be renewed. Louisiana let its waiver expire Oct. 1. The move, however, has faced adamant opposition.
“The Department of Children and Family Services and Governor Jindal do not understand the impact of their policy change,” the protesters said in a letter obtained by The Times-Picayune. “For many, food stamps stand between subsistence and starvation. Taking food out of people’s mouths will neither promote self-sufficiency nor create jobs, but rather only leave entire communities hungry.”
The protest was organized by Stand with Dignity. The group has filed an administrative complaint demanding that state reverse its decision. Protesters note 62,000 state recipients are at risk of losing their benefits. The work-requirements apply to able-bodied adults without children. The job must be at least 20 hours a week and the training must be federally approved. Without the waiver, state residents have three months to comply.
“We continue to seek opportunities for SNAP recipients to increase their self-sufficiency,” Children and Family Services Secretary Suzy Sonnier said in September. “Engaging in work activities is a key step in that transition. We are striving to reduce reliance on public benefits, increase the number of clients participating in education or workforce activities and connect Louisiana employers with ready and willing to work job candidates.”
Not everyone believes ending the waiver is a good idea. Louisiana Budget Project Director Jan Moller argues the decision ignores economic realities.
“Parts of the state that are very rural and very poor with unemployment rates far above the national average, that’s what this waiver was designed to address,” Moller told The Times-Picayune. “There are people who are desperately poor and need help.”
As of June, 44 states have either a waiver or a partial waiver. The food stamp program is officially known as The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Run by The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), it is the nation’s largest food-assistance program.
“We’re not talking about a luxury villa and a Cadillac in the driveway,” Moller continued. “Telling people you’re taking food off table for ideological reasons is bad policy and bad economics.”
According to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the program has increased from 17 million participants in 2000 to nearly 47 million in 2014. The improved economy has helped decrease the number of participants in recent years. Since participation hit its peak in December 2012, the number of people receiving benefits has declined by more than 1.5 million, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Well, I have to WORK to buy my groceries. That’s kind of how the world is supposed to work. OFF YOUR ASSES FREELOADERS! America is broke! The party is over!
“For many, food stamps stand between subsistence and starvation. Taking food out of people’s mouths will neither promote self-sufficiency nor create jobs, but rather only leave entire communities hungry.”
I think they’re saying we refuse to work for food. And if we are denied for any reason, then prepare for what comes...
well, food stamps are in the constitution. next to section 8 and welfare. and gay marriage.
Nature has a way of taking her natural course: the weak and stupid do not survive.
The total wealth of libs in the U.S. has to total in the trillions. There are literally thousands of ultra-wealthy lib multi-millionaires and billionaires. Let's see them put their money where their mouths are.
As did Tommy Thompson, former Governor of Wisconsin. As will Scott Walker, CURRENT Governor of Wisconsin. (We got a little side-tracked with the LibTard and RINO Governors in-between!)
So, SO tired of these leeches!
This morning, I was listening to one of these MORONS involved in the $15/hour strikers via McDonald’s.
He was bitchin’ because he’s 53 years old and only earning $8.50 an hour, which is only .50 cents MORE than he was earning (and I kid you not!) he said, ‘30 or 40 years’ ago!
OK. Whatever. If you’re 53, born in AMERICA and you’re not earning more than $8.50 an hour since you were thirteen - IT’S ALL ON YOU for not improving yourself in any way, shape or form.
*ROLLEYES*
“...the Democrat party has killed every charitable bone in my body.”
And here I thought that I was the only one! ;)
Kinda hard to Stand with Dignity when you’re begging for handouts.
Good grief! Its not like people under 50 can’t put in at least part time work.
You know, to be able to enjoy life. And we don’t let people starve in this country.
The drama is completely unnecessary.
The last time I was in Walmart I didn’t see anybody (except some of the workers) who was within 50 lbs. of starvation.
I hear Norway is nice this time of year too.
No work...starve to death. Has anyone starved to death in this country in the last 50 years? It should be interesting.
The protest was organized by Stand with Dignity....
You just can’t make this cr@p up, any more.
Stand with Dignity??? Yet you can’t even get up off your lazy, er, couch and go to work....so you won’t go hungry????
The ancestors of these protesters are surely spinning in their graves.
In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all,
By robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul;
But, though we had plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: “If you don’t work you die.”
We’ve taught a large segment of society that being a victim is their meal card to life. They know if they gripe & moan enough some politician will give them more goodies to shut them up and/or pad their career possibilities.
Society has trained them to be takers, to trade their dignity for free food, Obamaphones, and housing in drug-infested neighborhoods.
In this country? Starve? Almost impossible. Costco free samples for starters.
t this time of the year I’m reminded of “reduce the surplus population.”
I guess free school breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks isn’t making those fast kids any skinnier.
Hope it hops the obesity epidemic.
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