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RATE Coalition Co-Chair Elaine Kamarck argues that food stamps are only a safety net and the country will decrease usage under President Obama.
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Much record number of Americans -- subsidizing food stamps as we've talked about the numbers 46 point seven million.
As the number of people on the program as of June according to the Department of Agriculture but you worked that out it's it's roughly one in seven Americans around the country.
As for the cost annually of the program it's doubled in the last four years to more than three quarters of a trillion dollars every ten years.
Democrats gather down ends the -- have to say about that with more we're joined by -- Kmart former official in the Clinton White House now that share.
Of the rate coalition we get C didn't -- to volatile and the -- if not you.
-- know that and it seems like that would not be a talking point.
In Charlotte will it -- you thank.
I don't think they'll talk about it other than to say that we have a robust social safety net.
Under President Obama when you have a dramatic recession as we did starting in 2008 when the Republicans -- in office when he have a recession like that.
People lose their jobs and even when they get jobs sometimes they don't get jobs.
That pay as much money is the jobs they lost so this is fake plastic safety net it's working the way it's supposed to work.
When where out of this thing there will be fewer people on food stamps.
But -- that doesn't raise the issue because as these programs grow as entitlements.
Overall grow and to be fair.
The farm bill.
Darn -- President Bush's administration.
The farm bill gave rise to some of the growth in the food stamp program also.
The Pelosi congress also the stimulus package -- plenty of blame to go around.
But there have been there's been some movement.
To cut the food stamp program it just again by small amounts and you he starts reaches.
Out of some Democrats because that do you believe that this will ever be cut back in size as the economy gets back on its -- Twelve -- a big cut back inside because it naturally happens as the economy gets back on feet on its feet.
Fewer and fewer people qualify for food stamps in the first place so these entitlement programs whether it's.
Food stamps unemployment insurance Medicaid.
They go up and down with the health of the economy.
That's what a social safety net is and you don't cut it while you're still recovering from me a terrible recession but that -- a lot of job right.
The issue you have they stamp program -- doubled.
In -- as in the last four years is costing us over a decade three quarters of a trillion dollars.
And the economy and if you listed listened -- president all year is on both firmer ground so why isn't it shrinking as the question.
Well because the economy is -- certainly on firmer ground that it was in the fall of 2008 when the economy was heading that's right down into a Great Recession.
But it still isn't all the way back and the job growth isn't what it needs to be and people don't have jobs that are at the same level that they used to be so what's going on here is that as this economy moves back into.
-- good economy again.
These social -- safety programs are gonna -- Yeah when we get some better -- to more job growth in social thing you do I think what I will say that if you argue if you're Democrat you argued that the economy.
Is better than it was four years ago -- at the same time you shouldn't have a record number of people on food stamps.
As -- OJ not this year that's not true cut not true because this everybody admits even Democrats.
That this has been a slow and steady recovery.
But we are not where we need to be yet and so as long as we -- still movie in the right direction and that's what.
The president is done he has moved us in the right direction.
Nonetheless they are still people who need some kind of income support.
And that's what a social safety net does.
When we get in by the end of the president's second term well we've got more job growth as -- been seen in his first term.
Yeah -- -- what could be talking about these programs.
-- -- -- -- -- to -- hear about big dog deny it backs that back up in December after that.
I mean hey did you gotta talk about welfare reform and -- -- the budget I just wanted to have been put those on the table about.
We did just all CNN and watched President Clinton speak tonight as a goodwill I thank you so much they'll be great that -- -- that -- not have much.
