Yesterday the Supreme Court ruled that the government can temporarily withhold SNAP payments of approximately $4 billion.
In addition to incredulity over the firing of 55,000 federal workers this year, the U.S. is experiencing the longest government shutdown in history. People need to work; people need to eat.
According to CNN, 4100 federal employees have been laid-off during the shutdown. At the Washingtonian, you can find out where to get a free meal in D.C. In my state, the local supermarket has instituted a $3 cheap meal program to provide relief to the poor. The stores cannot legally specify these meals are for a particular group, but let us hope they feed the needy as well as the prosperous.
The first food stamp program in the U.S. started in 1939 to assist people on relief, and ended in 1943 when conditions improved. Later, a food stamp pilot program was instituted from 1960 to 1964. In 1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson asked legislators to pass the Stamp Act. And that’s when the program became permanent.
And here’s what seems obvious to a person wringing her hands far from D.C. The crisis of the shutdown and the withholding of food stamps are the fault of the Republicans and the Democrats in the House and the Senate, not just Trump.
I keep hearing, “Trump did this, Trump did that.” Well, his party supports him, and the Democrats apparently lack the power to protect the food stamp program.
It is my belief that people have the right to work and eat.
If you want to read the history of the food stamp program, go to
It’s not just Trump but he’s a determining factor. His refusal to negotiate is a stalled. The GOP in Congress are lapdogs. gop from 2010 did all they could to end ACA. This is their last or a chance to end it & idea govt is obliged, responsible to help people. GOP with Trump at head got rid of FEMA. No help in weather disasters any more. Money goes to rich or war, protecting private property. So it is GOP; Trump now badmouthing “Obamacare as bad system.” Yes but Obama did it to gdt GOP on board; a few voted for it; it passed and all against. They have no plan; they don’t want it. Arguably this capitalist subsidy plan at fault because it’s UN doable easily.
And it does stink to have indivual money and money profit involved.