At a town hall in Welch, OK on Thursday, Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) called for the outright elimination of aid programs for low-income Americans, claiming that he has witnessed food stamp fraud firsthand. Mullin said he would like to “do away with a lot of these programs” because they allow people to slack off.
“The food programs are designed to take care of people who can’t work, not won’t work. And we all know those people that won’t work, right?” he asked the audience. “They’re abusing the program, and we’ve got to get them off of it.”
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Hmm,,,lets see, how does this work?? On average I work 45-50 hours a week at an average of $8/hr for $800-900/month half of which is gone for rent, so yes I qualify for SNAP. I f I become sick not only do I have to pay out of pocket, but I lose income. To minimize that risk and due to the fact I'm diabetic and deal with chronic pain, I am very careful about what food I put in my body (tho I do smoke and drink way too much diet soda,,,neither of which I pay for using my SNAP. If my funds are low guess what I don't buy).
Now 5 weeks ago I purchased a brand spankin' new pair of Skechers at a cost of $89, want to know how,,,birthday money. My boots for work which will need for when the snow flys will take me 9-10 weeks of savings to buy ($189). See I can't go to Walmart (not that I would). I cant buy "cheap" footwear due to the fact that my right foot and ankle has permanent tendon/ligament damage and I am on my feet 8-10 hrs a day. I therefore attempt to keep myself mentally and physically "fit" but according to this asswipe's thinking I don't deserve SNAP. And dont tell me to get a better job(s), there are none where I live.
That whopping $148/month I receive, barely even covers my groceries (the maximum a single individual can receive is $200/month at 150% of federal poverty guidelines.) If I'm careful and can get a ride to the discount store in the neighboring town I can stretch it to 21 days worth of food. If not and I have to shop here in town 10 days tops. You see I cant fill my basket with pasta, bread or rice. I cant buy canned, boxed or processed products; I could but I prolly would be insulin dependent within a year and on disability within two.
So Mr Mullin get a fuckin clue!! It is not fraud, it is trying to make ends meet in hard economic times. Doing what we have to in order to survive.
Congressman Claims Widespread Fraud Because He Saw 'Physically Fit' Couple Use Food Stamps | ThinkProgress
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