News Opinons Politics

Ocasio-Cortez: Family ‘Might’ve Just Starved’ Under Trump Food Stamp Work Requirements

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) on Thursday claimed that her family “might’ve just starved” had the Trump administration’s revamped food stamp work requirements taken effect years ago.

Ocasio-Cortez on Thursday reacted to the formalization of the Trump administration’s food stamp work requirements, which will take effect April 1 of next year.

“We’re taking action to reform our SNAP program in order to restore the dignity of work to a sizable segment of our population and be respectful of the taxpayers who fund the program,” Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said, according to NBC News.


Perdue added, echoing the words of Ronald Reagan:

Americans are generous people who believe it is their responsibility to help their fellow citizens when they encounter a difficult stretch. That’s the commitment behind SNAP, but, like other welfare programs, it was never intended to be a way of life.

Ocasio-Cortez took issue with the requirements and claimed that her family “might’ve just starved,” had they been in effect years ago.


Trump pleads with Virginians to ‘just vote no’ on redistricting measure in telerally call
Another Democrat exits California’s crowded gubernatorial race weeks before the June 2 primary election
Chinese national arrested at JFK after allegedly photographing US military aircraft at Nebraska base
Louisiana Mass Murderer Who Killed 8 Children Previously Got Probation for Firing Gun Toward a School: Report
Mom, pregnant teen and 12-year-old found bound and murdered as police hunt multiple suspects
Cory Booker Calls for ‘Foot Soldiers’ to Take to the Streets to ‘Stand Up’ Against ‘Darkness’ in Bizarre Rant
Singer D4vd pleads not guilty to murder of young girl allegedly found dismembered, decomposing in his car
IDF Takes Quick Action After Soldier Caught Smashing Statue of Jesus in Lebanon
NASA coordinating with relevant agencies in missing scientists probe
Soros-linked dark money network fuels Virginia redistricting push backed by national Democrats
Republicans Are Banking on ‘October Surprise’ to Keep Senate Majority: Report
GOP blasts Virginia amendment as maps could swing delegation to 10-1 Democratic advantage
Sen. Mark Warner Announces the Death of His 36-Year-Old Daughter
Lawyer for American detained in Iran says hostage deal is ‘easiest problem on the table’ for both sides
A look into the controversies surrounding the now-former secretary of labor

See also  Virginia redistricting referendum tightens into a dead heat as early voting surges

“My family relied on food stamps (EBT) when my dad died at 48. I was a student. If this happened then, we might’ve just starved,” she wrote on Twitter.

“Now, many people will,” she added, accusing the GOP of working “overtime to create freebies for the rich while dissolving lifelines of those who need it most”:


Trump pleads with Virginians to ‘just vote no’ on redistricting measure in telerally call
Another Democrat exits California’s crowded gubernatorial race weeks before the June 2 primary election
Chinese national arrested at JFK after allegedly photographing US military aircraft at Nebraska base
Louisiana Mass Murderer Who Killed 8 Children Previously Got Probation for Firing Gun Toward a School: Report
Mom, pregnant teen and 12-year-old found bound and murdered as police hunt multiple suspects
Cory Booker Calls for ‘Foot Soldiers’ to Take to the Streets to ‘Stand Up’ Against ‘Darkness’ in Bizarre Rant
Singer D4vd pleads not guilty to murder of young girl allegedly found dismembered, decomposing in his car
IDF Takes Quick Action After Soldier Caught Smashing Statue of Jesus in Lebanon
NASA coordinating with relevant agencies in missing scientists probe
Soros-linked dark money network fuels Virginia redistricting push backed by national Democrats
Republicans Are Banking on ‘October Surprise’ to Keep Senate Majority: Report
GOP blasts Virginia amendment as maps could swing delegation to 10-1 Democratic advantage
Sen. Mark Warner Announces the Death of His 36-Year-Old Daughter
Lawyer for American detained in Iran says hostage deal is ‘easiest problem on the table’ for both sides
A look into the controversies surrounding the now-former secretary of labor

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, responded to the freshman lawmaker’s tweet, noting that the work requirements will only apply to able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 49 who do not have dependents:

See also  Jeanine Pirro accused of trying to ‘circumvent’ Jerome Powell investigation through unprompted Fed ‘tour’

She rebuked the think tank’s point, vaguely asserting that the rule “ignores the reality of American life” and implied that those who disagree with her position have not “dealt with the actual lived experience”:


Trump pleads with Virginians to ‘just vote no’ on redistricting measure in telerally call
Another Democrat exits California’s crowded gubernatorial race weeks before the June 2 primary election
Chinese national arrested at JFK after allegedly photographing US military aircraft at Nebraska base
Louisiana Mass Murderer Who Killed 8 Children Previously Got Probation for Firing Gun Toward a School: Report
Mom, pregnant teen and 12-year-old found bound and murdered as police hunt multiple suspects
Cory Booker Calls for ‘Foot Soldiers’ to Take to the Streets to ‘Stand Up’ Against ‘Darkness’ in Bizarre Rant
Singer D4vd pleads not guilty to murder of young girl allegedly found dismembered, decomposing in his car
IDF Takes Quick Action After Soldier Caught Smashing Statue of Jesus in Lebanon
NASA coordinating with relevant agencies in missing scientists probe
Soros-linked dark money network fuels Virginia redistricting push backed by national Democrats
Republicans Are Banking on ‘October Surprise’ to Keep Senate Majority: Report
GOP blasts Virginia amendment as maps could swing delegation to 10-1 Democratic advantage
Sen. Mark Warner Announces the Death of His 36-Year-Old Daughter
Lawyer for American detained in Iran says hostage deal is ‘easiest problem on the table’ for both sides
A look into the controversies surrounding the now-former secretary of labor

The current rules require childless, able-bodied adults on the program to “work at least 20 hours a week for more than three months over a 36-month period to qualify for food stamps, but states have been able to create waivers for areas that face high unemployment,” according to NBC News.

See also  Virginia could lose influence in Congress if Spanberger’s gerrymander passes

The new rule will add restrictions to those waivers, only allowing them if the unemployment rate in the area is over six percent.

The USDA estimates that 688,000 will lose access to food stamps under the new rule, and it will save taxpayers $5.5 billion over the next five years.

The news coincides with Friday’s jobs report, which indicated that the U.S. economy added 266,000 jobs for the month. The unemployment rate fell to 3.5 percent, “match

ing the lowest level in 50 years,” as Breitbart News reported.

Story cited here.

Share this article:
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter