Trump administration plan to cut food stamps

 

The Trump administration's plan to cut food stamps will disproportionately affect red states, with 1.9 million of the 3.6 million Americans set to lose benefits living in Trump country. The proposed regulations would end broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE), a bipartisan policy that protects low-wage workers from losing benefits due to a quirk in poverty-assistance law.

The cuts would affect 34% of elderly Texans receiving benefits, 23% of Wisconsin households, and 16% of Oregon, Nevada, Iowa, and Delaware households. Almost 400,000 people in Texas, 328,000 in Florida, 200,000 in New York, 97,000 in Georgia, and 176,000 in Washington state would lose benefits.

The administration claims the cuts will save $10 billion over five years, but experts warn of long-term costs, including worse health outcomes, poorer school performance, and increased behavioral issues for children. The proposal has been met with criticism from non-profit groups, who argue that taking food away from people will worsen food insecurity and have a negative impact on the economy.

The cuts would also affect working-class families who earn just above the statutory maximum income for SNAP eligibility. These families often make trade-offs between paying bills, fixing cars, and keeping the lights on, and cutting back on food first. The BBCE policy helps ensure that both kids and adults in these families can eat.

The administration's plan has been criticized for its potential economic and electoral self-sabotage, particularly in states where Trump won narrowly in 2016. In Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and other states, the cuts would disproportionately affect Trump voters.

Congress has repeatedly rejected similar proposals, and bipartisan majorities have protected SNAP from cuts. The right-wing crusade against BBCE has not won a majority of Republican hearts and minds, as most recognize the policy's effectiveness in investing in children's futures, local economies, and working families' progress.

The cuts would also have a broader economic impact, as consumer spending drives the economy. Cutting SNAP benefits means consumers have less to spend, which could lead to a slowdown in economic growth. The USDA's own estimates suggest that every dollar of SNAP benefit paid out generates between $1.50 and $1.80 in total economic activity when the economy is struggling.

The agency also found that the cuts would kill between 27,000 and 32,000 jobs per year over the next half-decade, across nine major industrial sectors. Forecasters are already warning of a potential recession, and the administration's plan could make things worse.

In conclusion, the Trump administration's plan to cut food stamps would disproportionately affect red states, working-class families, and the broader economy. It's a short-sighted move that ignores the long-term costs and potential economic self-sabotage. Congress and the public should reject this proposal and protect SNAP from cuts.