Senate Accepts Deal to Kick Formerly Incarcerated Off Food Benefits

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Yesterday, Sen. Vitter of Louisiana offered up an amendment to permanently drop anyone ever convicted of a violent crime from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). According to Robert Greenstein, president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Democrats in the Senate obliged him. The amendment is for a farm bill, which is currently being debated in the Senate.

Says Greenstein:

The amendment would bar from SNAP (food stamps), for life, anyone who was ever convicted of one of a specified list of violent crimes at any time — even if they committed the crime decades ago in their youth and have served their sentence, paid their debt to society, and been a good citizen ever since. In addition, the amendment would mean lower SNAP benefits for their children and other family members.

So, a young man who was convicted of a single crime at age 19 who then reforms and is now elderly, poor, and raising grandchildren would be thrown off SNAP, and his grandchildren’s benefits would be cut. … Democrats accepted it without trying to modify it to address its most ill-considered aspects.

Two-thirds of SNAP recipients are children, elderly or the disabled, and two-fifths of SNAP households live below half the poverty line.

According to Greenstein, if this amendment ends up in the farm bill and passes, it would hit African Americans particularly hard:

Given incarceration patterns in the United States, the amendment would have a skewed racial impact. Poor elderly African Americans convicted of a single crime decades ago by segregated Southern juries would be among those hit.

Sen. Vitter is claiming that his amendment is only aimed at preventing those convicted of violent crimes from obtaining benefits, apparently under the logic that stripping them of what may be their only form of income assistance will lead to less violence. Curiously, he didn’t propose that johns who’ve hired sex workers would also be banned from SNAP.

http://colorlines.com/archives/2013/05/senate_accepts_bipartisan_deal_to_kick_formerly_incarcerated_off_food_benefits.html

[Karee 4,190]

I wonder if these convicted folks are still required to pay taxes? Seems like if they're stripping away any govt. benefits they might be eligible for, they shouldn't have to pay for other people to get them.

Edited May 24, 2013 by Karee

[mota bhai 2,675]

If people eat less, they will lose weight. I bet this has Michelle Obama's blessings.

[decocker 7,198]

I wonder if these convicted folks are still required to pay taxes? Seems like if they're stripping away any govt. benefits they might be eligible for, they shouldn't have to pay for other people to get them.

indeed.

[lostinblue 1,989]

This means they will have to compete against about 8.5 million jobs held by illegal alien workers. Kinda tough when you HAVE to go to work for the first time in your life.Maybe you could start an organic farm and hire many of these people. ....put Monsanto out of business at the same time.Save the earth from climate change.

[lostinblue 1,989]

indeed.

If they are on snap what taxes are they paying ?.. They are still using roads,police services,probation services. Have to pay for the kenyans vacations the list goes on and on.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If they are on snap what taxes are they paying?

Payroll and sales taxes, for example. There are a lot of working folk receiving SNAP benefits. Thanks to fine places employers like Walmart.

Kinda tough when you HAVE to go to work for the first time in your life.

Even tougher when nobody will hire you because of your criminal record.

[GandD 5,966]

If they are on snap what taxes are they paying ?.. They are still using roads,police services,probation services. Have to pay for the kenyans vacations the list goes on and on.

You do know that people working and making minimum wage can qualify for SNAP?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

You do know that people working and making minimum wage can qualify for SNAP?

No, he doesn't.

[decocker 7,198]

If they are on snap what taxes are they paying ?.. They are still using roads,police services,probation services. Have to pay for the kenyans vacations the list goes on and on.

you're right. from now on three strikes and your dead.

in all seriousness, posts like this just scream bitter crybaby. whatever happened to paying your debt to society and being free to better yourself. anymore, once you're caught up in the pic, there is no way out.

it would be great if you could be pissed at corporations not paying taxes. that's where the real money is at. how is constantly attempting to bleed a stone dry productive?

Edited May 24, 2013 by val erie

[Karee 4,190]

If they are on snap what taxes are they paying ?.. They are still using roads,police services,probation services. Have to pay for the kenyans vacations the list goes on and on.

What if they are not on SNAP? Why should they have to pay taxes for a benefit they will never be eligible for?

<rant>

Since you brought up all those other services, should someone that does not live in the U.S. even one day out of the year be required to pay taxes? I spent 3 years living outside of this $hithole country and I was still required to pay taxes. I didn't drive on any roads, or call the police. I did at one point try to call the U.S. Embassy US Citizen services 24 hour emergency line which rang and rang with no answer. So paying my taxes didn't even help there. Yet I was still required to pay for all the services you mentioned.

</rant>

Here's my problem with the whole thing. Someone get's out of prison and they are required to get a job as part of their parole. Not too many people want to hire someone on parole. So they're kinda f*cked already. Now if they want help from the govt. for FOOD to survive (I'm not talking about IPhones, or Playstations, I'm talking about food) the Senate wants to tell them you're not eligible. I mean why not just give everyone a life sentence without parole? Let the private prisons make a killing off of the govt.

There is no component of rehabilitation in the U.S. justice system any more. There's only 2 components now.

1. Punishment

2. Profit

[decocker 7,198]

You do know that people working and making minimum wage can qualify for SNAP?

that is not something discussed or recognized within his base..

[GandD 5,966]

that is not something discussed or recognized within his base..

Oh yeah, I forgot, only these types are getting SNAP

[decocker 7,198]

Oh yeah, I forgot, only these types are getting SNAP

and so what. people are people. people need to eat. anyone of us could end up that dude one day.

[GandD 5,966]

and so what. people are people. people need to eat. anyone of us could end up that dude one day.

Sorry, my point was in his mind, only bums get handouts. But, as we know, many of the working poor need SNAP to properly feed their family.