Free Republic

House Republicans are proposing to bar most non-citizens from receiving taxpayer-funded benefits, including food stamps, in President Donald Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill.” GOP lawmakers are pursuing an extensive overhaul of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help offset the cost of the president’s tax priorities. The House Agriculture Committee will include a provision in their draft bill to restrict SNAP benefits to those who are citizens or lawful permanent residents following Republican Illinois Rep. Mary Miller’s request to the panel to prohibit certain non-citizens from receiving food stamps. “Taxpayer-funded benefits like SNAP are intended for Americans in need,...

On Wednesday’s broadcast of CNN’s “New Day,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated that the Biden administration is “trying to help people deal with the consequences of rising prices, whether it’s increasing the SNAP benefit or whether it’s making sure that the child tax credit is available to folks or whether it’s rebuilding the infrastructure of this economy” to fix supply chain issues. Vilsack said, “I think it’s — the key here is that we’re also trying to help people deal with the consequences of rising prices, whether it’s increasing the SNAP benefit or whether it’s making sure that the child...

Some folks think the world owes them a living. Must we appease them? Should government hand every man, woman and child a check each month to make sure we're all taken care of? Finland is looking at this basic idea, which Finns dub an "unconditional basic income" (UBI). One proposal suggests providing every Finn 800-Euros a month without regard to income, or lack thereof. Polling shows the basic idea is quite popular, with 69 percent of Finns endorsing a slightly more generous proposal. It sounds like Democrat George McGovern's "guaranteed annual income," which was mocked and ridiculed during the 1972...

By Mr. Curmudgeon:A reader once asked if I ever considered running for public office. "No," I told him, "because I would ignore my political opponent, questions from the press, and spend the bulk of my campaign attacking voters for transforming our Founder's well-conceived government into the world's largest criminal enterprise. An organization, led by community organizers, that exists for the express purpose of committing organized theft. People say they like it when someone "speaks truth to power," but in American politics, that corrupting power is the people.Americans that voted for politicians who built an intrusive authoritarian administrative bureaucracy, engineered a...

The New York Times just can’t seem to get much of anything right lately. No wonder they’re facing economic and reputation woes. Their article today falsely reporting on my record as governor is full of spin, and I shall call them out on it. Regardless of the recent political posturing, ACES (Alaska’s Clear and Equitable Share) is a success for all stakeholders who want more domestic energy supplies for our great country. The Alaskan people (who collectively own the natural resources, via our state constitution), the resource producers who bid on the right to develop our oil and gas, and...

The ratio of government handouts to wages and salaries in the United States is now at an all-time high. According to TrimTabs Investment Research, government handouts have reached a level that is equivalent to 35 percent of all wages and salaries in the United States. Considering the fact that this figure was only 21 percent back in the year 2000 and only 10 percent back in 1960 that is very frightening. The sad truth is that today the American people are more dependent on direct government payments than they ever have been before. What this does is that it...

For nearly 30 years, politicians have poured more than $65 million into downtown Buffalo hotels — an average of more than $50,000 per room. The strategy produced five hotels — and a lot of red ink. Some of downtown’s largest hotel operators say the last thing they need is more competition, especially subsidized competitors. But that’s exactly the course City Hall is pursuing. One heavily subsidized hotel is under construction, and development agencies in the last month have approved two others that would involve significant tax breaks. The new projects would increase the inventory of downtown hotel rooms by 22...

Lifeline Assistance is part of a program that was created by the government to provide discounted or free telephone service to income-eligible consumers. To help bring you this important benefit, SafeLink Wireless is proud to offer Lifeline Service. Through our Lifeline Service you will receive FREE cellular service, a FREE cell phone, and FREE Minutes every month! SafeLink Wireless Service does not cost anything – there are no contracts, no recurring fees and no monthly charges. Any Minutes you do not use will roll-over. Features such as caller ID, call waiting and voicemail are all also included with your service....

Tories threat to women's groups: NDP Toronto red Star Sep. 20, 2006. 03:42 PM OTTAWA (CP) — The federal Conservative government is threatening the survival of women’s organizations by delaying funding, the NDP charged today. “By not responding to funding applications, the Conservatives are allowing programs to shut down, one by one,” New Democrat MP Irene Mathyssen said. “What’s next? . . . It looks like Bev Oda is spoiling to dismantle the Status of Women Department.” The National Association of Women and the Law closed its doors Sept. 12 due to a lack of federal funding, the NDP...

Agency Delays Salmon Disaster Declaration WASHINGTON (AP) - West Coast salmon fishermen waiting for up to $80 million in disaster relief from a sharply curtailed fishing season are caught in a dispute between a regional fisheries office and the national headquarters. A disaster recommendation from a regional office of the National Marine Fisheries - which cleared the way for the fishermen to receive aid - was overruled by officials at the agency's suburban Washington headquarters. A final decision is not expected until February, well past the end of the fishing season, said Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., who is furious over...

January 25, 2005 -- A former Republican legislator who's looking to challenge Mayor Bloomberg claims Hizzoner's aides tried to buy him off with a six-figure job. "There's no question in my mind the offer was made so I wouldn't run," said Tom Ognibene, a former Queens city councilman who's threatening to enter a Republican primary against Bloomberg. Bill Cunningham, the mayor's communication director, said a meeting this month between Ognibene and two Bloomberg aides was routine and scheduled before Ognibene hinted he might run.

With 39 percent of El Paso children under the age of 5 living in poverty, local and state advocates said it has become more important to pump more resources into programs that target the academic and health development of toddlers. A study released today by several think-tanks throughout Texas shows that investing in early childhood development programs today could reduce the tax burden on issues such as remedial education, welfare, crime and poverty in the future. The study, "Exceptional Returns: Economic, Fiscal and Social Benefits of Investment in Early Childhood Development," estimates that for every $1 invested in programs like...

Victims of human trafficking may be sent to El Paso after they are rescued, thanks to a new federal program. And those sent to the city will be eligible for an array of government assistance, including medical care, Food Stamps, housing and immigration assistance. A seminar recently taught nearly 300 law-enforcement and social service workers about the new program, Rescue & Restore Victims of Human Trafficking. Attendees learned that foreigners who dance in adult clubs, work as housekeepers or beg for money on the street could be human-trafficking victims. "I had no idea until the seminar that human trafficking was...

FEMA Individual & Family Grant Program for Air Purifiers and Filters, HEPA Vacuums, Air Conditioner Repair / Replacement Release Date: June 21, 2002 For Complete Coverage of the World Trade Center Attack Administered by the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO), the Individual & Family Grant Program (IFGP) is in place to help individuals or families meet disaster-related needs and expenses that are not covered by insurance or other assistance programs. Under this program, New Yorkers may be eligible to receive assistance for home repairs, replacement of personal property and reimbursement for vacuum cleaners with HEPA* filters, air filters...