The Trump administration has announced its proposed 2019 fiscal budget, eliminating billions of dollars from federal programs. Drawing the most criticism is how the government plans to handle SNAP also known as Food Stamps.
Within the proposal the administration has proposed that any recipient who receives over $90, roughly 81% of SNAP recipients, a month in benefits to receive half of their allotted benefits as a USDA Food Package. The package would include items such as shelf safe milk, pasta, bread, peanut butter, and canned fruits and vegetables.
The question has remained what right the federal government has in telling citizens what they can and cannot eat by supplying specific foods within the package or even requiring citizens to be given a package instead of funds to begin with. The administration's proposal did not clarify how it intends to handle cases where someone has a food allergy or intolerance to contents of the package.
Some Republicans however, feel that the requirement is justified because citizens need to "lose their sense of entitlement because as long as the government continues to give handouts citizens won't become self reliant," according to Senator Paul Ryan. In the history of SNAP there has been no substantial proof that the program helps enable recipients to work or that citizens are responsible with their allotment with many instances of fraud recorded.
"What I really think people need to understand is the economic impact the proposal will have," stated 19th District State Representative Candidate Erin Frasier. "I normally wouldn't get involved in federal matters, but the proposal has the potential to take money from local economies and I think everyone really needs to understand that."
She continued, "when SNAP benefits are used at a store that store is taking in revenue which in turn employs local workers and puts money into our local economies. I encourage residents to contact our state senators and make their voice heard."
The administration's proposal will only eliminate an estimated $13 billion of the annual SNAP budget of $68 billion and cast uncertainty of how precise those numbers are given the cost to not only package, but ship the packages to SNAP recipients.
As of October 2017 an estimated 47.8 million U.S. citizens were enrolled in SNAP benefits. The final decision rests on the table of the House Agriculture Committee that has already stated, "some rule changes may happen, the changes shouldn't be too dramatic." The future remains unclear for SNAP as the Trump Administration and legislature continue a stalemate on what to do.