Liberals vow to back state aid, but restore food stamp funding

[babylonsister]

What a choice; a job measure vs. funding for food stamps? How did it get to this?


Liberals vow to back state aid, but restore food stamp funding
By Walter Alarkon - 08/08/10 01:58 PM ET


Liberal Democrats said they will vote for a $26.1 billion state aid bill when the House reconvenes this week but are committed to restoring the food stamps program funding that is being used to pay for it.

The jobs measure, which passed the Senate on Thursday, includes $10 billion for states and local governments to help them stave off teacher cutbacks and another $16.1 billion to help states with their Medicaid obligations.

Nearly half of the state aid bill's cost is being offset by taking $12 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is the official name for the food stamps program. The bill finds those savings by ending in 2014 a stimulus program that has increased food stamp levels.

While House Democrats say they'll support the jobs measure, liberal members said they're doing so over qualms about using funds that would otherwise go to people who need the help.

“This is a bitter pill to swallow," Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said in a statement to The Hill. "I fought very hard for the food assistance money in the Recovery Act and the fact is that participation in the food stamps program has jumped dramatically with the economic crisis, from 31.1 million persons to 38.2 million just in one year.

"But I know that states across the nation and my own state of Connecticut also desperately need these resources to save jobs and avoid draconian cuts to essential services for low income families," she added. "As you can imagine, for me personally, it’s like ‘Sophie’s Choice.’"

more...

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/113209-liberals-vow-to-back-state-aid-but-restore-food-stamps

[Sebastian Doyle]

1. It's a simple two step solution

1) End the useless occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.

2) Roll back the tax "cuts" on millionaire/billionaire tax dodgers to where they were in 1960. At the very LEAST 1980.

[Arkana]

2. DeLauro is illustrating the choice that every House Democrat had to make.

And I'm sure it was not an easy one. The people who sit by with their fingers in their ears and say "WELL THEY'RE JUST SCREWING US AGAIN LA LA LA LA" are close-minded idiots.

[babylonsister]

3. As she said, Sophie's Choice. Why these were the choices

still boggle my mind.