Posted on 01/08/2019 5:21:44 PM PST by upchuck
The Trump administration pledged Tuesday that Americans will receive food stamps through February despite the partial government shutdown, but officials could not promise those benefits will continue if the shutdown lasts until March.
Congress has only approved funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program through January, fueling concern food benefits used by 38 million Americans would expire amid the budget stalemate in Washington.
In a call with reporters on Tuesday, Agriculture Department officials said that they will give states the money for February’s food stamps ahead of time – by Jan. 20 – to circumvent the expiration of federal appropriations. States, which administer the SNAP program, will have to ask for the money to be allocated earlier than they normally would.
The move is part of a series of attempts by the Trump administration to limit the pain inflicted by the government shutdown now in its third week, as officials scramble to prevent essential federal services from expiring.
“I know there has been genuine concern across America” about food stamp benefits, said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. “The benefits for February will be provided … It works and is legally sound.”
SNAP beneficiaries will not see cuts to their benefits through the end of February even if the shutdown continues, said Brandon Lipps, acting deputy undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Checkmate. RATS lose their party tonight.
Can’t wait till Steny Hoyer trots outs the “Illegal To Pay For Food Stamps” argument, after he stepped on his “Holder” earlier today with his “Illegal To Pay Tax Refunds” gaffe.
EBT should end at 711, Wendy’s and all the fast food chains. I can understand groceries but most of the pukes who hold that card are younger than me and drive expensive cars. Welfare my ass..
Full article title: Trump team promises shutdown won’t stop food stamp payments in February, says program lacks funds for March.
Schumer and Pelosi have the power within their caucus to end this shutdown. The cost of the wall is a miniscule part of the overall federal budget. Just quit whining and do it.
EBT should end at 711, Wendy’s and all the fast food chains. I can understand groceries but most of the pukes who hold that card are younger than me and drive expensive cars. Welfare my ass..
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I did a lot of work at public housing projects over the years.
Most of them drove nicer vehicles than I did.
“Taxpayer money saved would more than pay for the [Wall].”
Fixed! MAGA! :)
I told the story here one time when i was having a bad day and this clown held up the long line bec. his EBT card has zero and was arguing with the clerk for 10 minutes that he had money in it..
I yelled at the tard’ to get out of the line for people who actually work for a living. He wasn’t homeless 100% as he wore brand new Nikes..
EBT should get you basic, nutritious, boring staples. Beans, bulk processed cheese, oatmeal, dried corn, split peas, etc. OK with me if the distribution point is the crappy foods section of a regular market or Walmart.
The point is, the food should be helpful, but not luxurious. Boring and nutritious... so you'd want to get off of the program.
I was once in a supermarket behind a couple of well-dressed latino women, with a well behaved child. THey had two large shopping carts filled to overflowing with good stuff, and pulled out the EBT card. It wasn't enough, so they paid for what was left over with an American Express card!
It's fund raising season and the democrats have control of the House for the first time since they were blown out 2010.
They're the furthest from the voters that they'll ever be.
They can't raise money from those donors if they cave on the Wall, they're adamantly against it.
If the cards would quit working maybe us average people could afford to buy a steak once in a while.
I know people who said they feed their dogs beef roast since the cards won’t buy dog food. i rarely can afford a decent beef roast.
It really pees me off when I see the pizza place advertise they take EBT cards. These people don’t work. Don’t they have the time to cook?
So the USDA has all these employees who usually are busy trying to get people hooked on government EBT cards for their food but are now not working. Millions of dollars are spent illegally on drugs, booze, prostitutes, and guns instead of food. So the the shutdown dries up the money in March. How about opening up soup kitchens manned by the furloughed USDA employees so those who are needy will have food, but the greedy thieves can no longer traffic EBT cards illicitly. Win/win.
in other words, it was Congress failing to pass appropriations to fund the program past Feb of this year. Which should have been done last year and has little to do with the shutdown.
“Welfare my ass..”
It wouldn’t hurt a great many of them to skip a meal or two.
Good, Illegaks won be getting food stamps in March.
All you others out there, buck up!
Adios, en el Marzo!
The federal government shouldn't fund welfare to the extent it does. They should have a work for living program.
How about welfare recipients report daily to local sites to make bricks, transport them to regional collection sites, where they are shipped to the border. Then welfare workers can lay the bricks along the entire U.S./Mexico border. Instant wall, and welfare recipients get exercise and job experience. With the millions of welfare recipients, the wall can be built in a few months.
If the EBT cards are cut off expect massive rioting and looting.
Lock and load.
¡Sí!
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