Posted on 11/19/2011 7:27:23 PM PST by BBell
Sen. David Vitter, R-La., joined last week with three other conservative GOP senators to propose caps on means-tested federal social welfare programs. It would require that funding for food stamps and 76 other federal welfare programs be capped at pre-2007 levels by 2015 or when unemployment falls below 7.5 percent, whichever comes sooner.
It would require that food stamps be limited to essential foods such as milk and bread, as the senators said the program was originally envisioned, not, as it is in four states -- California, Florida, Arizona and Michigan -- for purchases at fast-food restaurants.
"One of the most significant substantive accomplishments coming out of the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress was welfare reform," Vitter said. "But as significant as this reform was, we are overdue to renew welfare reform efforts and make additional gains because the welfare state has grown enormously since then -- even factoring our recession."
Democrats have said that the reason that food stamp use is up substantially is because of the current high unemployment levels and pay cuts for many Americans.
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
How about a cap on section 8 grants, I hear in NYC some of the “poor” have higher rents than half of America earns.
Its not going to go anywhere. Let David Vitter and Senators cut their obscenely fat pay checks before they put Americans on a starvation diet!
Food stamps are federal but doled out by the states. When Jenny Granholm was governor here, she gave them to all college students regardless of need. (Even wealthy trust fund babies could get them)
A couple months back we cut some 30,000 students off grub stubs saving some $75 million.
I want to abolish all 76+ federal welfare programs and replace them with a single monthly cash lump sum. Imagine dumping all of that bureaucracy on the unemployment line. Imagine the cost of overhead dropping 80%, heck half of the welfare budget doesn’t even get to the recipients.
A monthly cash dole. You gotta show up once a month and your residence must submit to the possibility of an “audit” to make sure you are poor enough.
That would be my idea. I’d have no chance to be elected. lol
in the state of the californicate everyone hates to discover
that the mexicans ahead of you in the supermarket line
are using food stamps.
it slows the line d...o...w...n.
I would also add random drug tests, just like in the work place. If you have enough money for drugs, you don’t need welfare.
“Sen. David Vitter pushes for caps on food stamps”
Forget caps, how about Pork Pie Hats?
and make it only available for US citizens or at least LEGAL residents
I haven’t hunted in years but I’m seriously considering a return to it. Two reporting stations in my area reported 1000 deer taken in the first 48 hours of the season. That’s up considerably from recent years and I think the economy has a lot to do with that.
The Roosevelt regime established that as a touchstone for CUTTING OFF WELFARE until a case worker could get out to visit you at your new address.
Sounds good to me.
“Means test” is political pablum. How about citizen test?
Without going into the convoluted discussion of how that works, I was there, present, when Virginia ran its list against the Move Update file and saw HALF of their welfare recipients DISQUALIFIED pending a visit by a welfare case worker.
It was truly startling. Word spread nationwide and before it was over half the welfare rolls in America had been cut in half.
I'm sure there are still some welfare cheats but the fact there's been recent growth in the rolls is probably due to LONG TERM UNEMPLOYMENT ~ and that's caused by JOB LOSS.
If Vitter is of the impression food stamp demand is driven by greed to the exclusion of need he's trying to avoid the real problems.
It's not likely he can balance the budget out of the Food Stamp Program.
Watched an obviously new illegal alien walk into a CVS with his friend who was teaching him all the tricks....his friend showed him how to swipe his EBT card as he bought a candy bar for 1.00, and got 25.00 cash using his card. They walked across the street to a package store and came out with a brown bag, doing scratch tickets.
America...what a country!
In Maryland its called the “independence card”. The steamed crab place has a huge sign that reads: “Independence Card Welcomed Here”. Steamed crabs? Seriously?
I know a couple who got $400 a month on food stamps, for 2 people.
I make a good hourly wage. I commonly work 50-60 hours a week, and shop sales and spend $200 a month on food. I think I eat pretty darn well too. If I can, so can others.
If $200 chuck is good enough for me, its good enough for others who are getting food stamps. When they're back to work and not on government aid, they can buy and pay whatever they want for food.
Better yet, go back to handing out dried beans and peas, rice, powdered milk, peanut butter, flour, cornmeal, canned tuna, butter, cheese, and the like.
If people are hungry and really need the food, they will take it. If not, then they didn't need it in the first place, now did they?
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