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How Democrats Plan to Cut Food Stamps Without Enraging Their Base
Roll Call ^ | 12/09/13 | Meredith Shiner

Posted on 12/10/2013 4:50:02 PM PST by Libloather

For Democrats especially, any talk about cutting billions from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is uncomfortable and certain to create internal strife. But negotiators on the farm bill believe they’ve found a way to make about $8 billion in savings from the program palatable for most Democrats.

The key is eliminating a loophole that enables states to help some low-income residents with nominal subsidies to pay for their heating in the winter in order to trigger much higher food stamp benefits. Some states, such as New York, will make a $1 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program payment to low-income people in order to automatically qualify them for the maximum federal food stamps Standard Utility Allowance for 12 months.

According to a source tracking the farm bill talks, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that raising the minimum energy subsidy states would be required to make to $20 would be enough to disincentivize states from utilizing the loophole, potentially saving the government $8 billion over 10 years.

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.rollcall.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cut; democrats; farmbill; food; foodstamps; stamps
RATS can get enraged?
1 posted on 12/10/2013 4:50:02 PM PST by Libloather
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To: Libloather
How Democrats Plan to Cut Food Stamps Without Enraging Their Base
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Agree to make some small cuts and blame the republicans?
2 posted on 12/10/2013 4:56:57 PM PST by Repeal The 17th (We have met the enemy and he is us.)
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To: Libloather

The progressives were smart when they put food stamps under the Ag Dept. With the power of the farm lobby, they continue to grow and grow. Do it for “the children”.


3 posted on 12/10/2013 4:59:47 PM PST by nascarnation (Wish everyone see a "Gay Kwanzaa")
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To: Libloather

Why don’t they just create a new entitlement, and call it the Affordable Food Act. Make sure it’s thousands of pages long. Then, somewhere in the middle in teency print, insert “Hereby, transfer $500 Billion from SNAP to the AFA”. Done!


4 posted on 12/10/2013 5:04:32 PM PST by C210N (When people fear government there is tyranny; when government fears people there is liberty)
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To: Libloather

5 posted on 12/10/2013 5:08:46 PM PST by JPG (Yes We Can morphs into Make It Hurt.)
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To: Libloather
saving the government $8 billion over 10 years

they spend MORE THAN THAT IN AN EFFING DAY

6 posted on 12/10/2013 5:16:55 PM PST by bigheadfred
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To: nascarnation

” Do it for “the children””

Everyone feed your own rug rats or let them die!


7 posted on 12/10/2013 5:21:52 PM PST by dalereed
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To: JPG

I’m 800 miles from the ocean and I can buy fresh oysters cheaper than that.

But then again....I don’t buy them very often because I actually have to work to earn the money I use to buy them


8 posted on 12/10/2013 5:36:29 PM PST by digger48
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To: digger48
I don’t buy them very often because I actually have to work to earn the money I use to buy them.

Well, that there is downright unpatriotic. What are you, some sort of Capitalist?

9 posted on 12/10/2013 5:59:08 PM PST by Veggie Todd (I don't always talk to Obama voters, but when I do I ask for Large Fries.)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...

> The key is eliminating a loophole that enables states to help some low-income residents with nominal subsidies to pay for their heating in the winter in order to trigger much higher food stamp benefits.

Thanks Libloather.


10 posted on 12/10/2013 7:29:10 PM PST by SunkenCiv (http://www.freerepublic.com/~mestamachine/)
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To: Libloather

That $20 is no disincentive.

It’s $20 in exchange for thousands of dollars.No state is going to turn down a deal like that!


11 posted on 12/10/2013 7:38:34 PM PST by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat Party!)
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To: Libloather

bump


12 posted on 12/10/2013 10:33:35 PM PST by gattaca ("If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." Mark Twain)
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To: Libloather

Just do a typical progressive thing and call them something else.


13 posted on 12/11/2013 10:53:10 AM PST by Organic Panic
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