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Democratic Strategist Jehmu Greene on the Administration’s efforts to expand enrollment in food stamps.
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One in seven Americans are on food stamps -- separate but that's not stopping the government from trying to ramp up participation in the program.
The newest suggestion to throw up food stamps party the USDA offers the following advice for local offices to help boost enrollment.
Throw a great party -- social events where people mix and mingle make upon by having activities -- food entertainment.
This is sort of ridiculous -- -- disagree with me democratic strategist -- -- Thanks for coming on to disagree with me here in person absolutely so.
Yeah think that strikes me about this is the number of people who have signed up for food stamps has tripled in the past decades -- seems like it need encouragement that there's lots of people signing up.
There are lots of people signing up and we know the reasons because of the recession and also because the food stamp program was used as a part of the Recovery Act.
But at the end of the day we don't have a 100%.
Participation.
We won't -- participation.
We want -- 100% participation for low income families military families.
Families with children.
Families with senior you know we're not there I mean the numbers have gone because first forty that is -- all the stats prove that we're not there the Congressional Budget Office the national science institute.
Everyone who looks at this program we know -- around 72% and the reality as.
We -- the richest nation in the -- in the world we cannot have children going hungry.
Nobody will not become a hot air -- -- going bigger hunger counseling right about that but it feels like we're getting to a point we have more people in the cart -- pulling the cart so by encouraging more and more and more people to go on food stamps we're gonna eventually run out of money.
Not at absolutely because what is gonna happen as we come out of the recession.
The food stamp numbers are going to come back down to that percentage they were before the recession the percentage of the GDP.
We're in -- special place right now where the numbers of households that were eligible increased in the participation rates have increased but again we're not at a 100%.
We have a -- in -- taxes that.
Is you know I'm so broke I can't pay attention this is really serious how long children learn how can they.
-- -- really become a part of the economic engine in this country.
If they are going.
Finally our children and these -- going these parties hey here's a series find out they're spending three million dollars on the S ads.
-- want to spend three million dollars on food I'm.
The reality is that the government has been spending dollars to promote certain programs.
Since way back to 1792.
So yet seems like it's a high number.
Three million on you know parties -- it's not like you know they're celebrating because people are hungry.
What they're doing is trying to innovate.
And show different creative ways to really promote to the families -- of the neediest to promote that this program is is accessible to them.
Without it then we won't see the type of participation rates that are necessary problem.
-- the gap that money that goes into these ads the money that goes into food stamps doesn't come out of thin air.
It comes from taxpayer dollars taxpayers would be spending this on something else maybe food for their own families may be close -- their own -- -- -- maybe they'd -- stimulating the economy so there would be more jobs out there -- people that are receiving food -- Could go out and work in feed their own failing in their I would feel good about themselves salt.
You bring up stimulating the economy actually if -- talked to any economist they will say.
That the snap program food stamps are one of the best economic stimulant sweet.
Have the money doesn't matter if -- error I mean it's not -- saying it stimulates the economy but it's not it and many came from somewhere else it would have been spent on something else for every dollar of the food stamp program at any it's every dollar and 72 cents goes back into the local economy.
This is a big.
Part of helping and supporting local content economies that are suffering in the recession.
Yes it's not ideal to have families living in poverty not able to you know provide for -- food on the table.
But at the end of the day when you have a food stamp program.
That not only helps feed people but also stimulates economy it's a win win situation -- stamp party would you it's a win win situation.
Would you -- food stamp party.
I think the government has to do everything -- -- to be innovative to be creative.
To use the dollars that have been appropriated.
To make sure that we have the highest participation rates possible.
In this program USDA -- provide us with a statement congress allocates funds to the USDA with a mandate to connect public education about the benefits of -- and how it applies to help reduce hunger in America the agency begin airing radio ads in 2004 more so you know before the recession more recently developed a community.
Tool -- to help organizations engaged with elderly people who might be eligible I don't know goes on and on I'm not sure that the statement says anything.
The money is there.
We want the government to be as innovative and as creative as possible and we don't know we -- -- we can't ineligible for this program as productive as possible we want them to be as conservative as possible we want -- to use our tax dollars well I mean we're looking at Solyndra.
We're looking BI Chris coming after us for healthcare now that's having ads to try get more people on food stick cymbal and does that and.
But using our tax dollars smartly.
This is where economists say that pisses -- One of the best ways to stimulate the economy better than taxes better than other spending programs -- so this in a sense is innovation.
Is -- productivity on the government's behalf -- guess what.
Children are going to go hungry military families are gonna go hungry and -- -- wants aren't gonna go.
Well this is all background -- you heard it here all right thanks for coming on -- appreciated.
