Bush's food stamp plan called ethnic pandering

San Antonio Express-News ^ | January 18th, 2002 | Gary Martin

[Sabertooth]

Metro and State
Bush's food stamp plan called ethnic pandering

By Gary Martin
Express-News Washington Bureau

Web Posted : 01/18/2002 12:00 AM

WASHINGTON Ñ A Bush administration proposal to restore food stamps to legal immigrants is being attacked by conservatives who accused the president of trying to buy votes from traditional Democratic groups in an election year.

"It's plain to see that the president has chosen to steal a page from the Democrats' playbook," said Rep. Tom Tancredo, chairman of the House Immigration Reform Caucus.

"His attempt to expand our political base through surrendering to the Hispanic vote is usually the Democrats' job. Votes can't be bought with welfare," said Tancredo, R-Colo.

Congress banned legal immigrants from receiving food stamps in a sweeping welfare reform bill in 1996.

President Clinton supported that bill, causing a furor within the Democratic Party and an outcry from minority-rights groups.

The administration plans to restore food stamps to legal immigrants who've served in the U.S. military, or those who have been in the country for at least five years.

"This is election year pandering to ethnic voting blocs, plain and simple," charged Dan Stein, executive director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which advocates strict limits on legal immigration.

"The sensible political thing to do is to cut immigration levels and change the immigration policies that allow far too many people to settle here who lack the skills necessary to make it on their own," Stein said.

Bush is proposing to restore the food stamp benefit to legal immigrants in his budget for fiscal year 2003, which begins Oct. 1, said Jean Daniel, spokeswoman with the Food and Nutrition Service, the agency that runs the food stamp program.

The Bush proposal is expected to cost $2.1 billion over 10 years, and provide food stamps to more than 363,000 immigrants who are in the country legally and meet the criteria of the program but aren't citizens.

The president called the restoration of benefits the right thing to do, and now the right time to do it, Daniel said.

A similar proposal, one that would lower the eligibility to those who have been in the country for four years, is under consideration by the Senate, which must still pass an agriculture bill that authorizes spending for this fiscal year.

Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, said lowering the eligibility requirements in the 1996 welfare reform bill would trigger a provision that he tucked into an immigration reform bill that year that requires a sponsor of a legal immigrant to pay for public benefits, such as food stamps.

gmartin@express-news.net

01/18/2002

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[MissAmericanPie]

I don't drink, and I think I'm seeing things alot more clear headed than you are at the moment.

[mrustow]

Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, said lowering the eligibility requirements in the 1996 welfare reform bill would trigger a provision that he tucked into an immigration reform bill that year that requires a sponsor of a legal immigrant to pay for public benefits, such as food stamps.

Yeah, just like the sponsors are required to pay for immigrants who can't support themselves.

I'm so glad, we have a Republican in the White House, unlike those evil, welfare state Democrats. No Republican, least of all W, would ever start buying votes with bread and circuses. I'm so glad, we have a Republican in the White House, unlike those evil, welfare state Democrats. No Republican, least of all W, would ever start buying votes with bread and circuses. I'm so glad, we have a Republican in the White House, unlike those evil, welfare state Democrats. No Republican, least of all W, would ever start buying votes with bread and circuses.

[CoolGuyVic]

"Double standards are double standards even IF it's with the guy one voted for. (did that make sense?LOL)"

It's crystal clear to me.

Though, some around here might not see it that way.

[FITZ]

Besides, have you ever seen "thin" people using food stamps?

Exactly. There are already serious health problems in Hispanics due to obesity, giving more food stamps doesn't seem to be really a good idea when they need to lose weight to prevent diabetes and heart disease.

[concerned about politics]

Nope. I'm with Bush. These are legal immigrants. They're here. There's nothing you can do about that. They are citizens.

Give them a chance to make something of themselves. Get them voting. Get them active.

The big problem I see is the time limit. It has to be nothing more than a political stratigy. Not a life long contract.

We need that vote, and you know it.

[Sabertooth]

No one could ever come close to doing as much harm as the Clintons. Ever.

I agree with you, but I didn't expect much from them.

I'm extremely disappointed in this move by Bush, and others he's signaled.

[CheneyChick]

How soon we forget..... unbelievable.

[holyscroller]

"The president has no worries on the Hispanic front. For reasons that have less to do with welfare than with war, Bush enjoys an 89 percent approval rating among Hispanics."

Sure, as long as he doles out the windfalls. But come election time, the Dims will do their usual brilliant job of taking the credit, and the illegals and minorities will all vote Democrat.

[Lady In Blue]

Why did you put this thread under breaking news?

[FITZ]

Giving them food stamps isn't going to accomplish any of that, it certainly won't get them active, it'll get them fatter and less active.

[AMMON-CENTRIST]

Surrender here!"

"Bend over and get your red hot Surrender here!"

*Laughing hard*

Whoooo, that was funny. Dang Saber, I've never seen a president so eager for destruction of America!!

[YaYa123]

correction: We were told he's a "compassionate conservative". So there's no betrayal here. "2.1 billion over 10 years" is chump change...and if it helps to elect congressional candidates in 2002, I'm all for it.

I don't call this "pandering", I call it living up to a campaign pledge. "Pandering" is what Hillary did to get Hassidic votes in New Square, and Puerto Rican votes in NYC.

[Sabertooth]

I'm with Bush. These are legal immigrants. They're here. There's nothing you can do about that. They are citizens.

No, they aren't. That's the point.

Citizens shouldn't get food stamsp either.

We need that vote, and you know it.

You think so?

Then you don't need mine, nor the votes of the majority of Americans who oppose this.

Surrender on immigration and illegals is a loser at the ballot box.

[concerned about politics]

Look, you libertarians can bitch and moan all you want, but there's a political war going on in Washington. We got Bush by the skin of our teeth. We almost ended up in the United Socialist States of America under Al Gore!
Now wake up and smell the coffee. If the dumocraps catch that vote, we're out of the game. Libertarians can certanly kiss their party good bye.
Sometimes during war, a man has to do what a man has to do.
Bush is doing just that! Live with it. No surrender!

[mrustow]

It sure seems like Bush is QUICK to spend, spend, spend. Where's he getting all that money from?

Accounting by Arthur Andersen, Inc.

Our headquarters
33 W. Monroe
Chicago, IL 60603
USA
Tel: 1 312 580 0033
Fax: 1 312 507 6748

[CheneyChick]

Why the hell did you send that little tirade to me?

[FITZ]

Taking tax payer money and promising more hand outs to get votes is pandering. We should be ending the food stamp program not expanding it to immigrants who can't make it in the US.

[Sabertooth]

You're out of line. CheneyChick is extremely principled, and not a Libertarian in the least.

She's a fine lady, even when she and I disagree.

[concerned about politics]

That was for Sabertooth, the guy who wants the Dumocraps to win the 2004 election.