Record Number of Iowans receiving State Aid..

[Debi]

but not because there are more poor...oh, no!! :wtf:

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2006/03/14/news/politics/0effa0f2cb08897986257131004f67dc.txt

DES MOINES --- A record number of Iowans are receiving help from the state's food assistance program, a result of state officials reaching out to families who need help with their grocery bills.

In February, the program formerly known as food stamps helped 224,237 people, eclipsing a record set in March 1984 during the depths of the farm crisis.

However, this time the enrollment spikes aren't because of tough economic times. Instead, more people are getting help because of intensive efforts by the Iowa Department of Human Services to enroll more of the needy.

<snip>

"The economy has improved. We are now serving thousands of people who didn't know they were eligible, or who didn't think it was worth pursuing because benefits would be too low, or who didn't apply because they thought it would be a hassle," said DHS director Kevin Concannon.

<snip>

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Don't these people still need to be below a certain income level to be eligible? Sheesh, I guess not! This is all due to a really good PR campaign, not our economy going to pot!! :eyes:

[MARALE]

1. Kevin Conconcon

He must be a republican. I don't know any poor people that live under the guidelines that don't get government help. Most people that poor know they need help. Most people that poor don't care about the hassle.
I know there are a lot of people that are now eligible because they did not get a raise for the last 3 years.
Our economy is getting bad, the average real wage went down again this month, and you know it is going up for all those CEOs. That means there are more poor people than ever before.

What Morons!!!!

[Debi]

3. Agreed n/t

[IA_Seth]

2. Oh, puke!

The economy can "grow" as much as it wants, but if the buying power of the average American is going down "growth" doesn't mean shit. So there are more corporations making money...neat. Now feed us.

Regarding eligibility...eligibility requirements are in place to ensure the benefits are going to the 'poor'. Perhaps they have data that show the number of 'eligible' Iowans hasn't increased, only the number of those that are accepting benefits.

If this is the case it wouldn't mean we have an increase in 'poor' people, but those eligible are feeling the bite of poverty more so than they may have previously.

[Debi]

4. Okay, Seth, WTF is up with your avatar now?

I agree with your post. Students who receive free or reduced lunches are up, people who are on LIHEAP are up. Maybe the 'average' wage is up (only because the Values Fund created 10 f&^#ing millionaires to every 1,000 poor kid making $15,000 a year) but the amount of poor is greater and everything in Iowa COSTS MORE :grr:

Okay, Values Fund math - six jobs created - average salary is $33,000 - that's great!! Except what we are not told is that one job is created at $100,000 and 5 jobs are created at $20,000 (wait, Debi, now that's only a little over a thousand dollars above the poverty level, that can't be considered a 'living wage' that is MANDATED by Iowa Values Fund standards.)
Whatever, we created 6 jobs, quit yer bitchin!

[IA_Seth]

5. The joys of the Values Fund

I would love to get specific data that shows each job the Values fund is attributed to creating, and not just the mean wage, but the median wage. Are all these jobs located in Des Moines? What percent of these jobs are union jobs? Exactly what is the benefit of this corporate pay-off?

I would think this has the possibility of being a big campaign issue.

Lol, and the avatar...it is Seth in hieroglyphics. I know, I am a freak.

[Debi]

6. Oh, good, cuz I thought it was your artist's rendition of "How to give

Your dog a bath" Unless maybe that's what Seth means in Egyptian? :shrug:

[rurallib]

7. That is data I'd love to see.

Must be somewhere. You'd think the unions would have it.

[Debi]

9. You have to go to the IDED's web site and snoop

and yes, the web site is NOT user friendly! :(

[IA_Seth]

11. I'm trying....

I sent an email to the IDED today requesting this information, text of which is below:


-------
To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing in hopes of receiving some detailed information regarding the Iowa Values Fund (the fund) and it's successes in regards to job creation in Iowa.

I am interested in obtaining data to show all jobs created by the fund, the location of said jobs, and the mean and median wages of these jobs.

I am also interested in obtaining information that will help determine if any of the jobs created are organized (labor unions).

Any help you are able to provide, or any direction as to where I would be able to obtain this information, would be very appreciated.

XXXXX
--------

We will see what I get. If I get any hard numbers I will certainly share them!

[rurallib]

8. Time to cut the food stamp program

Can't have tax cuts and food too.

[Debi]

10. Didn't Nussle just do that? Or did he just cut EVERYTHING ELSE? n/t