House GOP Eyes Food Stamp Overhaul, Possible New Eligibility Requirements

[workinclasszero]

House GOP Eyes Food Stamp Overhaul, Possible New Eligibility Requirements
ByMARY CLARE JALONICKPublishedDECEMBER 7, 2016, 9:40 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are laying the groundwork for a fresh effort to overhaul the nation's food stamp program during Donald Trump's presidency, with the possibility of new work and eligibility requirements for millions of Americans.

The GOP majority of the House Agriculture Committee is releasing its two-year review on Wednesday. It stops short of making specific policy recommendations, but it does hint at areas that congressional Republicans could focus on with their GOP monopoly under Trump: strengthening current work requirements and perhaps creating new ones, tightening some eligibility requirements or creating new incentives to encourage food stamp recipients to buy healthier foods.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/house-gop-food-stamp-overhaul?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tpm-news+%28TPMNews%29

[WhiteTara]

1. Full frontal assault and

his "presidency" hasn't even begun.

[yeoman6987]

2. Damn them

That's one minor problem when unemployment is 4.6. The repugs think getting a job is easy. Ugh!!!!! This is just one of many screws we are going to get as a country.

[Demsrule86]

8. Most people on food stamps have jobs.

[RobinA]

10. And If Not,

they can work in his newly opened coal mines. What's not to like?

[Demsrule86]

12. There won't be any coal.

Coal is going away because of economics, not ideology...I understand the pain of losing your job, though.

[calguy]

3. Trump's Chumps have no idea what they just voted for

but they're going to find out real soon. I don't think they are going to like the results.

[workinclasszero]

5. And many Dump voters thought they had nothing to lose

They are gonna find out real soon that they were wrong.

[Skittles]

14. it's gonna slam a lot of Trump voters

I will have a VERY hard time sympathizing with them, although I will feel sorry for their kids

[Eliot Rosewater]

4. I truly believe they want to starve certain people.

[Dream Girl]

20. Yes, they wouldn't mind at all is we lost a good chunk of our population...

I believe some of those conspiracy theories. TPTB want people gone.

[Ilsa]

6. Create new incentives to buy healthier food?

Don't they know that fresh produce is usually more expensive and hard to get to food deserts?

[Amishman]

9. I think it is more targeting buying soda and junk food

I think the idea is to move to a tighter approved foods list similar to WIC programs. No soda, chips, sugar laden cereals, etc.

I'm actually on with that as long as the list isn't too insanely restrictive. I would like to see eligibility expanded. Seems like a good trade-off; more people are eligible but they can't buy soda, energy drinks, or junk food. I doubt too many people are buying that stuff today anyway. They get to chase their phantom food stamp soda fiend and we get to reach more people.

[Demsrule86]

13. It is not a 'good' trade off.

I can assure you... eligibility will not be expanded by the GOP who have cut the program multiple times during the Obama presidency...with their threats of government shutdown and all. I work with food programs as a volunteer here in Ohio and many kids go to bed hungry these days...I am sure the evil GOP enjoys that...they all make me sick.

[standingtall]

19. I don't know how that can possibly

be interpreted as more people being eligible. The article clearly says they are to discuss the possibility of new work and eligibility requirements. Many states and counties have already moved to work requirements. If anything they are going to make work requirements more strict and eliminate some of the exemptions for work requirements. Meaning more people with disabilities will not be eligible. They say that no one with disabilities gets cut off,but that's not true. People with disabilities fall through the cracks in a work requirement system.

Also as someone pointed out earlier in this thread healthier food cost more money. So it is not practical to think you can get people to buy healthier foods by cutting their funding as republicans are known to do.

[Demsrule86]

7. And so Trumps 'solution' begins...hope it is not a 'final' one.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

11. This may be a reality check for West Va. deplorables who voted puke and will now do without.

[Yavin4]

15. Starving Trump voters will still blame undocumented immigrants and African Americans.

Even as they starve to death in the streets.

[Cha]

16. Thank you, working

[Hamlette]

17. there will be some push back from food suppliers

if they try to block soda etc. Hopefully they will help this battle.

They also need to think of the cost of administering these programs. Someone has to make sure you buy healthy foods and get a job. Food stamps is a relatively low administrative cost program. So is UI. Work requirements make it much more expensive.

[spanone]

18. nothing is safe. their mission is to take away as much as possible to those who have no voices....