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FBN’s Gerri Willis on the rise in the number of people receiving food stamps and how it benefits state governments.
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Programs have a way of growing uncontrollably.
Even the good -- -- was supposed to be aid for Americans in real financial trouble food stamps have now become an entitlement for the middle class no kidding.
When food stamps or energy used in the 1970s.
They were designed to cover about one in fifty Americans today it's one in seven.
Now liberals of course blame the recession and yes it certainly true that the recession knocked a lot of folks -- their feet and they needed some help.
But if the rising food stamps were just because of the punk economy then explain mess.
During the recession spending on Medicaid the government's other big welfare program rose 27%.
But food stamp spending more than double going up a 110%.
And as the -- unemployment rate has come down the last few years enrollment rates and food stamps have only gone up why.
Well they're blowing open the eligibility requirements the federal government and the states are just looking for excuses to expand the roles.
For example now anybody who qualifies for welfare home heating assistance -- alike is -- medically eligible for food stamps.
So what's happening.
States are exploiting this by sending out checks to families for one dollar just one dollar under the guise of a program to help pay the heating bill.
Because of that one dollar check -- can get a 130 dollars.
A month from the federal government in food stamps now most of those getting these one dollar -- subsidies are living in government sponsored housing.
So the utility bill is -- paid by Uncle Sam.
The cost of this -- need loophole is closing in on a billion dollars a year so why the states so gung ho about adding to the food stamp rolls.
Well they get a lot of money for half a billion dollars from the federal government for signing up more people.
This is one policy that needs ago if -- -- expect this program to have any integrity at all.
Today more than 46 million Americans get food stamps it -- become the new normal.
The government even thought the name food stamps -- a turn -- for people so they renamed it the supplemental nutrition assistance program snap.
And their effort to get everybody on the -- they've started running and campaigns like this.
-- offers help to all kinds of people selling.
Can I be eligible if I have a -- yes she can if your incomes -- but I have a car no problem you may still will -- that I.
I own my own house and can still qualify here -- human right.
To learn more about -- call 1800 tumbled on many can -- cook chicken.
Our -- again have a job own a car -- own -- house.
The American dream and still qualify for food stamps.
Apparently food stamps -- about helping the needy anymore it's now get this a program to help you lose weight.
Would you look at margin she looks amazing yeah she sure parents I wonder how she stays so fit.
What's his secret window she told -- pet food stamp benefits help her eat right and she stays active too.
These ads are your tax dollars at work trying to -- immense more people to take your tax dollars.
And all of government set to spend 770 billion dollars for food stamps in the next ten years.
Look it is time to go back to the intended purpose of food stamps helping people who are -- -- Of our lawmakers were serious about cutting spending they'd start there and it snapped.
