Oh, SNAP: 14 Reps Take from Poor, Give to Selves
Washington, DC— Fourteen members of Congress, all Republicans, have voted themselves huge farm subsidies while voting to cut nutritional aid to 47 million Americans.
At a total of $7.2 million in total subsidies, these members average over a half million dollars apiece in public monies going directly to benefit themselves and their spouses.
The 14 Congressional Reps who believe struggling families have it too easy have, between themselves, a combined net worth of $124.5 million.
So, let’s break it down, Mudpups:
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) doesn’t just benefit poor families in the obvious way, but has also been shown to improve infant health, the scholastic performance of high school students, and even their lifetime earning potential. It also benefits the farmer from whom poor families are now able to purchase food.
Due to innovations in the program since 2008, SNAP payment accuracy is at an all-time high. That is to say, error and overpayment rates have steadily declined to all-time lows:
Meanwhile, the subsidies to big agribusiness—the sort benefitting the aforementioned Congresscritters—tell a very different tale of corporate welfare benefitting the top 10% of agricultural interests:
Here are the (not so) Fab Fourteen. If one of them is yours, The Mudflats urges you to inquire into their priorities.
Rep. Robert Aderholt (Alabama 4th)
16% of home county receives SNAP benefits.
Rep. Blake Farenthold (Texas 27th)
19% of home county receives SNAP benefits.
Rep. Stephen Fincher (Tennessee 8th)
22% of home county receives SNAP benefits.
Rep. Vicky Hartzler (Missouri 4th)
9% of home county receives SNAP benefits.
Rep. John Kline (Minnesota 2nd)
5% of home county receives SNAP benefits.
Rep. Doug LaMalfa (California 1st)
11% of home county receives SNAP benefits.
Rep. Tom Latham (Iowa 3rd)
10% of home county receives SNAP benefits.
Rep. Frank Lucas (Oklahoma 3rd)
6% of home county receives SNAP benefits.
Rep. Cynthia Lummis (Wyoming At-Large)
7% of home county receives SNAP benefits.
Rep. Randy Neugebauer (Texas 18th)
16% of home county receives SNAP benefits.
Rep. Kristi Noem (South Dakota At-Large)
7% of home county receives SNAP benefits.
Rep. Marlin Stutzman (Indiana 3rd)
5% of home county receives SNAP benefits.
Rep. Mac Thornberry (Texas 13th)
23% of home county receives SNAP benefits.
Rep. David Valado (California 21st)
13% of home county receives SNAP benefits.
Note: The data documenting this stunning and callous hypocrisy comes courtesy of the excellent staff of Congressman George Miller (D-CA). Rep. Miller is one of the good guys, and deserves our thanks for bringing this to the attention of The Mudflats. Their full documentation of this matter can be read here in its entirety.
They don’t realize doing this just makes it worse for them…politically, socially and financially…this is the day and age of the internet…instant news and correspondence…you can interact at work to get an idea of folks take on this and see what you can do about it…as a team or individually…more in numbers…but the backlash to them with this will last for a time I think…they know not what they do…but they will find out the consequences of it…
I hope they do. So far , folks like them manage to get their constituents looking elsewhere and pull these stunts with relative immunity…
Thanks for the enlightening link. I knew about Farenholt and Fincher; now I have full info. These Congresscritters are among the scum of the earth. Ms. Noem, for example, is “at-large,” meaning she’s supposed to represent ALL South Dakotans. Well, I’m acquainted with quite a few who hail from the Rosebud Reservation and Mission. Last time I visited, my host informed me that it’s the poorest county in the entire United States. No surprise there; the reservations are notoriously poor land for growing anything. The soil is very alkaline, which supports sage just fine, but not much else. Of course, soil can be amended. My friend, who is a brilliant gardener, uses horse manure to bring the soil in her garden to the proper pH, and her leeks were as big around as my wrist, and as tasty as any leek I’ve ever had the pleasure to enjoy. Ms. Noem, what do you say to the kids on the Rez? Do you advise them to take federal money for the Black Hills (which the First People consistently reject), and let them be further mined for gold and uranium? Please explain yourself, Congresswoman.
From Wiki-Noem received 27 traffic citations between 1989 and 2010,20 of them for speeding,plus several for stop sign and seat belt violations and no drivers license. She received failure to appear notices and two arrest warrants were issued for her.She says she has worked hard to be a better example for kids and young drivers. Paid all her fines and interest by 2010.On the bright side she voted for Paul Ryans budget which would have cut S.D. Medicaid by 58% and she did vote for an Indian casino.
I don’t often post political things on my facebook page, but I posted this list the other day. I was disgusted that these 14 could vote for a subsidy to pad their own already substantial bank accounts while taking food away from hungry children.
I work with many kids who receive these benefits, and the idea that politicians could be so callous and cruel to children while voting to give themselves more money is beyond belief. And they’re not even ashamed to do it.
Welcome back,stranger.:D
*waving to leenie*
(School starts August 19 for my students.)
Thanks Mike! 🙂
Waving back at ya TCW! (School starts after Labor Day for me this year. I lost my teaching position after 12 years but will be working in the same school as a F/T interpreter for one of my former students. Not the job I really want, but I love the kid so it will all be okay!)
You saved the farm for me. Pi and tcw have been sending rain,but it never got here. Last night after you checked in it rained an inch and two tenths so I am indebted to all three of you Ladies. The air smells so clean for once,like freshly laundered cow manure.
*happy dance*
freshly laundered dairy-air, eh?
Going all Wisconsin on us, there, mikey.
tcw
(who cannot remember the last time we had 24 hours without rain,
but has a bumper crop of frogs and skeeters and mud
and is thisclose to living in a rainforest)
Then I guess you and Ms Pi would be kindred spirits,each with a rain forest of her very own,cepting yours doesn’t have grizzly bears.
Not sure I can take credit for any of the wet stuff, but happy that it smells like clean manure around your neck of the woods…I think?
(I can guarantee that’s the first time I’ve EVER said something like that!)
(Does one fluff and fold it after it’s been laundered?)
Ask anyone and they will tell you I’m a bad influence on “Pups” Laundered manure is supposed to soak into the ground as fertilizer. When it runs off in waterways it becomes pollution and algae blooms.
Yay! Hi Leenie!
Missed you.
Now we have you back visiting, mikey had much needed rain, and bunches of other good things . Cool beans!
Well. ‘Cepting for the doofs who have undercut their constituents in need. That part still sucks.
Wow..the past few months have been kind of challenging for me but the warm reception I’ve been getting on my return visit to the ‘flats is making me feel all warm and fuzzy! Thanks AP! 🙂
I’m sorry things have been tough for awhile for you.
And you WERE missed here.
To borrow from my son , who borrowed from a rather dramatic extended family member-
Do not ever despair, we are always here for you . 🙂
( I had broken my hand to bits when a piece of equipment flew apart, totally failed to distinguish myself as a tough hero type by passing out immediately and woke to my 4 year old patting me on the forehead in the clearing around our cabin in the middle of nowhere saying , over and over again, ” Do not despair Ma, I am here… Do not despair Ma… ” )
Thanks, Pi!
I keep reminding myself that whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I’ve been through tough times before and I know I’ll survive these as well, and be the stronger for it. And I also know that, no matter how crummy I think things are and how sorry for myself I’m feeling, there’s always someone else who has it a lot worse than I do!
While thinking all those things help keep us going in bumpy times , fellowship of the most basic and essential variety helps too.
Getting our shorts in a bunch and getting rid of politicos who can’t see past the end of their selfish notions of who deserves a piece of the community pie is also useful – nobody needs insult piled on top of hardship in the peculiarly nasty form of the pull up your bootstraps bucko! crap these folks dish out whilst arranging their own comfy nests 🙂
Shame on them.
To the xtians among them, may I recommend the book of Matthew, chapter 25, verses 31-46.
This was one of my granddaddy-in-law’s favorite Bible stories. He was a farmer, a moonshiner, and a preacher at the little church he built for the folks in the holler. He was one of the smartest, kindest, most generous souls I’ve ever known, and his memory is for a blessing.
“44Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”
I imagine that their Jesus is disappointed and Mother Mary weeps.
thatcrowwoman