My new Bloomberg View column concerns the furor over Gingrich’s labeling of Obama as the “food stamp president.” Some of what Gingrich says on this subject is misleading, but he’s right to raise concerns about the program’s recent growth. From the column:
A more troubling reason for the increase is that state governments have found it easy to get their constituents federal money — that is, money mostly raised from current and future taxpayers in other states — by making more people eligible for food stamps. According to a mid-2010 report from the Government Accountability Office, 35 states have no limit on the amount of assets a food-stamp recipient can possess. More and more states — the count was 36 at the time of the report — are providing “categorical eligibility” for food stamps to anyone who receives welfare services. Merely getting an informational brochure from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program counts as receiving a service.
DAS RAYCESS!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhat's to be furious about? As this story shows, clearly Barry is The Food Stamp President.
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Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe categorical eligibility is a real issue, but you also hit on:
"According to a mid-2010 report from the Government Accountability Office, 35 states have no limit on the amount of assets a food-stamp recipient can possess."
This is an interesting point. It is not probably in anyone's interests to see people who are temporarily without income or savings to resort to liquidating assets. For one, the liquidation of assets will certainly come at a disadvantage in what the applicant could raise under better (i.e. non-emergency conditions). Is it a wise policy to have people out selling vehicles or other hard assets at steep discounts in order to stave off temporary food assistance?
Secondly, it illustrates another problem, which is a lack of saving. People with non-cash assets need to be persuaded to save in cash before accumulating assets.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusesorry. I can't read an article that has as it's second or third sentence, "... as is his wont." Very nice that you have used the word "wont" in an article and you have established intellectual superiority.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'll definitely defend Newt on this, Obama is the Food Stamp President.
What's even more sick is, I'll bet Liberals actually think it's an achievement that so many Americans are using this form of assistance.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWouldn't you expect food stamp programs to grow in a severe economic downturn?
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