Democrats and Republicans in Congress have reached a food stamp cuts "compromise." The
$8 billion in cuts over the next decade will certainly compromise the health of low-income families and the moral standing of any Democrat voting for it, but if we're going to define anything as a compromise as long as it's less than the most crazy-extreme Republican demand, the nation is basically doomed. Yes, $8 billion over a decade is less than the $40 billion House Republicans favored, but Republicans can take comfort in the fact that it's still going to leave a lot of people hungry:
The farm bill would avoid some of the drastic measures that were part of the House bill, like work requirements and drug testing for food stamp recipients, but antihunger advocates said the $8 billion cut would reduce benefits by about $90 a month for 850,000 households. The bill does contain financing for a pilot program aimed at encouraging recipients who can work to find work. Nearly two million people will be affected by the cuts.
Oh, great. A pilot program to encourage people to find work. Now if Congress would just pass some meaningful job-creation legislation so there were actually jobs to be found.
By the way, under current rules, "Able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) may only receive 3 months of SNAP benefits during any 3 year period, unless they are working in a qualifying job training program." Funny how that gets lost in the shuffle when Republicans start screaming about work requirements.
After November's cuts to food stamp benefits, many food pantries and soup kitchens ran out of food. Now Congress is doubling down with that $90 a month cut for 850,000 households, so any Republican who likes to claim that charity will be able to step in and fill the gap had better get out their checkbook right now and make a big gift to their local food bank. Or prepare to be proven very, very wrong about charity being enough. Actually, be prepared to be proven wrong anyway. And be prepared for higher health care costs as well.
It's cruel, it's shortsighted, it's shameful. And of course the major question is whether the most extreme among the extremist House Republicans will revolt because it's not cruel, shortsighted, or shameful enough.
Tell your House member: Stop the backroom deal that cuts food stamps.