Posted on 05/17/2012 8:14:29 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Melissa Booher is scared. For the last five years this mom has been able to put food on the table for her family because of food stamps.
"I honestly don't know what I'd do without them," said Booher.
But she may soon have to figure it out.
In an effort to reduce the deficit and replace what would have been a 10 percent cut to the military budget, the House of Representatives voted last week to cut the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $36 billion.
"That's just going to be catastrophic for working families across all of the 17 counties of North Florida that we serve," said Bruce Ganger.
Ganger is the head of the local food bank Second Harvest North Florida. This year, Congress has already forced him to cut two million pounds of food from their distribution. Now faced with this, he's unsure how he'll continue.
"It's the perfect storm if you will. There's going to be less food in the system to feed them and more demand from people who are going to need the food," he said.
"Without the SNAP benefits and without food pantries supplementing those programs, I know a lot of families would be without. It's not just myself," said Booher.
According to the Department of Children and Families, more than one in four households in Duval County rely on SNAP. Breaking that down further, that's 203,000 local children.
Ganger fears they will be put in jeopardy if these cuts aren't vetoed.
"If they really understood the issue and the impact of this solution, I believe they'd reverse the legislation," Ganger said.
According to Second Harvest, 76 percent of SNAP households include someone disabled, elderly, or a child.
The legislation is currently facing a veto threat from the White House.
How about we cut 10% from the military budget AND the SNAP program (for starters)?
I cook up rice and then add a big can of chili w/beef and beans. It’s one of my favorite dishes and is packed with vitamins and nutrients.
This week I discovered a bread mix package where all you add is a can of beer, mix and bake.
Chili beans, rice and beer bread. Tether me down, boys, I’m about to float to culinary heaven.
Two bucks a day - no problem.
Don’t know her situation, but 5 years of depoendence is a bit overboard - one must wonder what kind of “sacrifices” she has made to better her and her kids’ situation. With far too many, food stamps is a convenience so they can afford other conveniences, rather than a necessity.
again. you can tell me you think there are “many many many” but in reality, unless you provide some proof there are “a few”.
federal housing can take time. Many states have their own programs.
Lots of things look easy on paper and are not at all like that in real life. I know, and have known, people going through this process. You are responding like a leftist, who reads that no one goes hungry in a socialist system and refuses to believe otherwise because it would mess up his wordview.
“Emergency’ SNAP applications are processed in a few days.
“Emergency” qualification is easy for anyone in need.
Those who don’t have cooking facilities- homeless and roomers- would be best served with soup kitchens.
Instead of giving everyone restaurant privileges (though rare exceptions could make sense).
The conundrum with government charity is that it doesn’t meet the needs of the needy.
With rare exceptions they need help, not just handouts.
That’s why SNAP benefits are double what a competent person needs, yet never enough for an incompetent one.
How ‘bout we deport the twenty million illegals and their nachor baby ninos ? And get them out of the safety hammock ?
Voila ! LOTS more available for those who REALLY need it.
We called that (and still call it) Beefy Mac.
bluntly: when society decided to mitigate the costs to the individual of a poor decision about having sex.
wait... Your calling me a leftist? Your funny.
I could give two poops what put her in the situation she is in. she is NOT my responsibility for 5+ years other than by force of the government to pay my taxes like a good little drone or else I go to jail. I’m all for helping people out to get back on their feet but there has to be a limit and I feel that limit comes long before 5 years.
Now, should I CHOOSE to give money to a charity who vets her and makes sure she is not playing games with them and helps her with food or other expenses I am ok with that.
That's right genius.
So, if voters are used to getting that entitlement that feeds their kids and other voters are sympathetic to those receiving that entitlement, then that translates to fewer votes for unfeeling Republicans during hard times.
There is so much else that can be cut but we went right for that third rail so we could give the Democrats an oversized club to pummel Republicans with.
Good! Cut the income tax to 0 and cut all non essential government and watch the unemployment rate drop to 1% fast!
Since we have a ‘volunteer’ military and not a universal draft where all get a possibility to serve their country, cutting pay would probably get less good naterial and more poor material to ‘volunteer’
Amen-——now, tell us how you really feel——lets all be honest about our USA-—we have let the politicians curry favor with all the lazy louts to vote for them and get a free ride-—everyone get their a— out in November and vote for anything but those in power now and do it next election as well for the ones we miss this time—anyone but an incumbent (put your dog up to run for office) as they are all in cahoots to screw the worker because your voting habits are not as predictable as their ‘lazy louts and assorted bums’ (male and female)
Amen-——now, tell us how you really feel——lets all be honest about our USA-—we have let the politicians curry favor with all the lazy louts to vote for them and get a free ride-—everyone get their a— out in November and vote for anything but those in power now and do it next election as well for the ones we miss this time—anyone but an incumbent (put your dog up to run for office) as they are all in cahoots to screw the worker because your voting habits are not as predictable as their ‘lazy louts and assorted bums’ (male and female)
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