WP: Food Stamp Cuts Are On Table, House Plan Would Affect 300,000

[Rose Siding]

By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 3, 2005; Page A01

snip>
The battle will be joined today when the House Budget Committee is scheduled to fold eight budget-cutting bills saving $50 billion through 2010 into a single measure and then send it to the floor for a vote next week. The Senate is also set to vote on its version of the budget-cutting package, which would not cut food stamps. The smaller measure, with $39 billion in savings, has broad reach, affecting Medicare, Medicaid, agriculture programs, private pension plans and energy.

The Senate action will feature a showdown over a bid to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, as well as confrontations over limits to agriculture subsidies, Medicaid payments and Hurricane Katrina relief.

While concerns about runaway spending for the war and disaster relief have dominated the debate over the budget until now, lawmakers in both chambers have been quietly drafting changes to major spending and entitlement programs that would affect millions of Americans, including the fast-growing immigrant population.

The food stamp cuts in the House measure would knock nearly 300,000 people off nutritional assistance programs, including 70,000 legal immigrants, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Those immigrants would lose their benefits because the House measure would require legal immigrants to live in the United States for seven years before becoming eligible to receive food stamps, rather than the current five years.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/02/AR2005110203007.html

[Erika]

1. Yeah let's kick those poor people when they are down

The rich deserves those tax breaks. The legal immigrants are working dirt cheap for our employers. Under the GOP reasoning, they will introduce tax breaks for those who can no longer legally use cheap illegals.

[kurth]

2. GOP vision for America: CALCUTTA

[truthisfreedom]

5. and they always accuse Democrats of having no vision. NOW i understand.

Calcutta.

[aquart]

6. Hey, Calcutta looks a lot better with our jobs.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

44. Holy cow!

[Warren Stupidity]

3. More tax cuts for the wealthy are also on the table.

Paid for by taking away food stamps, cutting medicare and medicaid, robbing the SS trust fund, and putting our children deep in debt for the rest of their lives. Republican values once again.

[cap]

4. this includes the Katrina people...

eom

[Gloria]

7. OK, I expect more "planned, unified action" from the Dems on

all this.....

So the "lawmakers" change the rules midstream on legal immigrants??? (5 to 7 years, without warning?) They'll do it to the rest of us on other issues if they get away with this!

[Robeson]

8. Why not cut the Pentagon's budget so that we can save 50 billion...

...by 2010. Oh, I forgot, that's not up for discussion in this country. Move along....

[phusion]

37. Blasphemous!

Pentagon budget should NEVER be cut!

Don't be silly...

:grr: :grr:

[cornermouse]

9. Unconscionable and immoral.

from the "Let them die" Party.

[phylny]

10. It's no big deal, really. Right?

42 For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me anything to drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me no clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'

44 "Then they will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?' 45 And he will answer, `I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.' 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."

[mom cat]

28. Oh, not that Jesus. Why are you quoting that commie pinko Jesus?

What would Pat Robertson think!
:saracasm:

[area51]

36. Jesus

Yep, the republinazi party follows the teachings of Supply Side Jesus.

[mom cat]

42. They are the ones shouting

crucify him and his damned teachings too!

[saigon68]

11. SIMPLY DISGUSTING

I guess if one is blessed == One is Rich

However if one is poor, one is lazy, filthy and evil

The poor are evil and must be exterminated </sarcasm>

[TomClash]

12. CLASS WAR

[annabanana]

14. They accuse us of that every time we object to the funnelling

of our $ into their pockets.. As per usual, WE are guilty of everything THEY are doing...

[salin]

13. Good news is that the over $1,000,000 folks get to keep ALL

of their tax cuts.

Thanks poor people, say the uber rich. Sorry about having your having to skip meals, sorry about your kids doing even worse in school due to hunger, but hey... I get a new Hummer this year!

:sarcasm:

[cantstandbush]

15. That a Republican controlled House would put this on the table at a

time when food prices are going as far out of site as oil prices should tell America something. And if the Dems don't use this as one of their talking points they need to be kicked in the butt.

[SillyGoose]

16. Brought to you by the party of Compassionate Conservatism.

Tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy and the poor get the shaft.

This is a disgrace.

[Theres-a]

17. Just in time for the holidays

[SillyGoose]

18. Yep and right on top of the heating oil price problem.

Did you know the White House is opposed to the oil companies voluntarily donating 10% of their windfall profits to a heating oil fund for the poor? Its going to be a tough winter.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration opposes a Republican proposal that oil companies voluntarily contribute some of their record profits to a federal fund that helps poor Americans pay winter heating bills, Energy Secretary Sam Bodman said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Senate Finance Chairman Charles Grassley sent a letter to U.S. energy companies, urging them to donate 10 percent of their swelling profits to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Asked by reporters if the administration supported the plan, Bodman responded: "No, sir. I wouldn't support it. It is similar to a tax."

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2005-11-02T191431Z_01_SIB269237_RTRUKOC_0_US-ENERGY-USA.xml&archived=False

[Theres-a]

27. Just when you think it couldn't get any worse

[LeftHander]

19. GIve the rich a tax cut too while your'e at it....

THat is what makes America work...stave the poor to feed the rich...

[Debau2005]

20. I thought

this was a telling statement, "House Republicans are pushing to cut tens of thousands of legal immigrants off food stamps, partially reversing President Bush's efforts to win Latino votes by restoring similar cuts made in the 1990s."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9904528/

So we give you benefits, oh no wait...we take it back...Sort of like a deadly game of Hokey Pokey!?


<snip>
‘Compassionate bill’
When Bush secured the restoration of food stamps for thousands of legal immigrants in the huge 2002 farm bill, he pointed to the provision as proof that the measure was a "compassionate bill."

At $844 million over five years, the House's proposed food stamp cuts would account for less than half a percent of the total food stamp budget over that time. But Jennifer Ng'andu, a health and social policy analyst at the National Council of La Raza, highlighted the symbolism of the provision: It is the only item in the budget measure targeted at immigrants.

"Going back on this is a reversal of all the achievements Bush has made with immigrants," she said. "These are lawful residents, good enough to die for our country in Iraq but not good enough to get food stamps."
<snip>

[adigal]

21. The Christians are in charge, the republican religious right

Don't you know???

Ha!

[IndyOp]

22. Names of Reps who could be swayed?

It's useless for me to call my Repuke Congress Critter. :grr:

[HillDem]

23. 2006 Theme

Republican reverse Robin Hoods

Rob the poor to give to the rich.

[niallmac]

24. Kinder, gentler, uniter not a divider, compassionate conservatism.

:puke:

[Sub Atomic]

25. What I find very interesting about this

is that many military families receive foodstamps.

Is this yet another way that Republicans support our troops?

[The Flaming Red Head]

26. At a time when gas is so expensive

Have they no shame?

[liveoaktx]

29. VIDEOS-DeFazio and Emanuel speak up about this

DeFazio

Emanuel

[rodeodance]

30. Food Stamp Cuts Are On Table (legal immig. & kids affected)!!

kids--about "40,000 children would lose eligibility for free or reduced-price school lunches, the CBO estimated" in these cuts!!


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/02/AR2005110203007.html?referrer=email

Food Stamp Cuts Are On Table
House Plan Would Affect 300,000

By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 3, 2005; Page A01

House Republicans are pushing to cut tens of thousands of legal immigrants off food stamps, partially reversing President Bush's efforts to win Latino votes by restoring similar cuts made in the 1990s.

The food stamp measure is just one of several provisions in an expansive congressional budget-cutting package that critics say unfairly targets the poor and disadvantaged, especially poor children.
The battle will be joined today when the House Budget Committee is scheduled to fold eight budget-cutting bills saving $50 billion through 2010 into a single measure and then send it to the floor for a vote next week. The Senate is also set to vote on its version of the budget-cutting package, which would not cut food stamps. The smaller measure, with $39 billion in savings, has broad reach, affecting Medicare, Medicaid, agriculture programs, private pension plans and energy.

The Senate action will feature a showdown over a bid to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, as well as confrontations over limits to agriculture subsidies, Medicaid payments and Hurricane Katrina relief.

.....
The food stamp cuts in the House measure would knock nearly 300,000 people off nutritional assistance programs, including 70,000 legal immigrants, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Those immigrants would lose their benefits because the House measure would require legal immigrants to live in the United States for seven years before becoming eligible to receive food stamps, rather than the current five years.......

[whatever4]

31. I'm watcihng. Unbelievable

I can't believe anyone rejects those rational arguments against a more modest tax cut for high income individuals. It's unbelievable anyone wants these cuts on programs instead. Even lunch programs. Sickening.

[napi21]

32. I heard about this this AM on cspan.

The Rep that was on explained that the foodstamp eligibility requirement used to be 10 year residency in the US. That was changed to 5 years during the 90's. They are recommending it be increased to 7 year residency. If you become a citizen at any time, the residency requirement goes away.

[rodeodance]

33. look at Bush comments from 2000.

....."We're cutting, but we're also changing things to try to make them fit today's needs better," House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) said yesterday.

But some Republicans worry that social service cuts, though relatively small, might have outsized political ramifications, especially when Republicans move in the coming weeks to cut taxes for the fifth time in as many years. Those tax cuts, totaling $70 billion over five years, would more than offset the deficit reduction that would result from the budget cuts.

"The problem is the interrelationship between cutting taxes, which no matter what you do will be viewed as cutting taxes for the rich, and reducing programs for the poor," said moderate Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-Del.). "It's that simple."

When Bush secured the restoration of food stamps for thousands of legal immigrants in the huge 2002 farm bill, he pointed to the provision as proof that the measure was a "compassionate bill."

[Rainscents]

34. McCain voted for this shit... I really hope, moderate Dems and Republicans

see this shit! McCain don't give a shit about poor or middle class. When he run next time, I really hope, DEMS will slam him with all the votes he voted against poor and middle class. He really need to be exposed!

[Megahurtz]

35. As long as THEY get to

go home to their cushy million-dollar homes at night,
what do they care about anyone else?

:sarcasm:

[twaddler01]

39. they don't

i won't even begin to get into why this is happening.....

[mcscajun]

38. Yup...Katrina's over. Lessons on Poverty in America? Sorry, nobody's

interested; at least, not anyone in power.

Sure, we had a window into how poverty still has a grip on large parts of America, so naturally the thing to do is cut food stamps. Yup. Way to take care of our fellow Americans. :sarcasm:

I'm beginning to think an asteroid might be a real good idea...just a little one...just big enough to smash the critical center of D.C. and leave the neighborhoods nearby standing. :banghead:

[snippy]

40. But, thanks to the republican party, these 300,000 people soon will have

a bridge to nowhere. In fact, nearly everything the republican party does provides most American families with bridges to nowhere.

[TexasLawyer]

41. Paris Riots

House members should look carefully at what is happening in Paris.

When enough people get angry, desperate and hungry they might go on the rampage.

[KayLaw]

43. I think they know

The Patriot Act will handle any rowdy rebels.

[JerseygirlCT]

45. How can they live with themselves?

How do they look in the mirror every day?