There are over 40 million people in America who receive food stamps. We as taxpayers pay about $70 billion in taxes to provide those food stamps to recipients. The House Agriculture Committee is considering a bill today which would require more recipients to work for those food stamps. I support that effort, and if the bill gets through committee, and makes it to the full House, I intend to vote for this measure, and urge other Members of Congress to do the same. Here’s why.
Many government programs started out as temporary help for the truly needy, and unfortunately evolved into permanent ways of life. I would argue that not only is the taxpayer who funds these programs harmed, but so is the person (or persons) who become dependent on them. Children in many homes grow up where they never see an adult go to work. Dependence on the government becomes generational, and everyone suffers.
For many families, food stamps have become one of these programs. Here’s how the legislation being considered this week would change this endless cycle. Food stamp recipients would have to work a minimum of 20 hours per week, or be training for work, unless they are disabled, pregnant, or have children under 6 years of age. The idea is to get more people self-sufficient, rather than dependent on the government for their survival. Makes sense to me.
Unfortunately, Democrats are fighting this much-needed reform. It’s “mean-spirited.” It’s “not fair to require people to work.” It will cost too much”!? Boloney! It’s wrong to enable people to become or stay dependent on the public dole when they (and their children) would be better off if they were able to become self-sufficient.
The challenge in getting this common-sense legislation across the finish line, is that even if it passes out of the Agriculture Committee, and passes in the House of Representatives, we will need 9 Democrats in the Senate to support it, as there are only 51 Republicans there, and 60 votes are needed to overcome a filibuster. It seems incredible that Democrats would want to block an effort to get more people into the workplace and out of poverty, but it’s true.
Fortunately, there may be reason for optimism. President Trump may be able to move forward on this and other welfare reform efforts by executive action. For example, just last week he signed an executive order requiring federal agencies to strengthen existing work requirements, and consider extending them beyond food stamps, to other programs like Section 8 housing and Medicaid (not Medicare.)
It’s about time we do everything possible to help those who receive food stamps, public housing, and Medicaid, to improve their lives by becoming more productive, self-sufficient citizens. It’s obviously not possible for all who receive public assistance to work, but for those who are able, let’s help to get them back into the workforce.