Food Stamp Showdown: Sen. Sessions Demands ‘Immediate’ USDA ‘Explanation’ of Its Anti-Fraud Efforts
by Wynton HallContinuing his fight against costly food stamp fraud and abuse, Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) has sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack requesting an immediate explanation of the USDA’s oversight procedures combating food stamp fraud.
Sen. Sessions’s move came in response to a USDA press release announcing “new tactics to combat fraud and enhance SNAP program integrity.”
As Sen. Sessions explains in his letter:
I have a responsibility on behalf of taxpayers to hold federal agencies accountable for how public funds are being spent. I would therefore ask that the Committee be immediately provided with a thorough explanation of all oversight actions your Department is taking, as well as a list of recommended federal reforms that would reduce waste, inefficiency, and abuse in the food stamp program. I would further ask for a follow-up report within the next sixty days detailing the findings of all oversight that USDA will have conducted….Unmonitored welfare programs, over time, can hurt the very people we are seeking to help. Our goal is not only to improve the outlook for our indebted Treasury, but to help needy Americans achieve a better future through work and personal development.
Annually, the nation’s food stamp program–officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)–costs taxpayers $89 billion, a figure that has more than doubled under President Barack Obama. The number of Americans receiving food stamps has skyrocketed in recent years. Today, 46 million Americans–1 out of 7 citizens–receive food stamps, a jump of more than two-thirds prior to Mr. Obama’s vast expansion of the program.
Sen. Sessions’s letter to Sec. Vilsack points out that the spike in food stamps has outpaced the nation’s rise in unemployment and is largely the result of the so-called categorical eligibility rules that automatically gives food stamps to individuals eligible for other federal programs, regardless of income levels.
While the weak economy has increased the number of people on food stamps, spending on the program has dramatically outpaced the rise in unemployment. In just ten years the food stamp budget has quadrupled. The number of Americans receiving food stamps has grown from about 1 in 50 Americans when the program expanded nationally, to 1 in 7 today. Between 2001 and 2006, unemployment averaged around 5 percent but spending on food stamps actually doubled. Meanwhile, according to research by University of Chicago economist Casey Mulligan, most of the increased spending on welfare programs (including food stamps) since 2007 is the result of expansions in eligibility, rather than increases in the number of people who would have been eligible under pre-recession rules.
The letter also instructs Mr. Vilsack to produce within 60 days a detailed follow-up report on the results of his department’s anti-fraud tactics.
Sen. Sessions is not alone in his concern over food stamp fraud. Last June, the Wall Street Journal issued a report declaring a “food stamp crime wave.” And last August, Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney called out Mr. Vilsack by name when the Agriculture Secretary suggested that food stamps are a form of “economic stimulus” and “put people to work.”
In response to Mr. Vilsack’s comments, Mr. Romney said:
I think that there’s some folks like Tom Vilsack and President Obama himself that imagine that if you just throw money at people, that somehow that will make the economy better. But we’re out there borrowing money from the Chinese, to hand out money here, and that is not going to get America working again.
Mr. Vilsack’s view that food stamps are a form of economic stimulus and a jobs creator presumably suggest he believes more food stamps will create more jobs. Given this view, look for a potential showdown between the USDA and those fighting for improved fiscal oversight.
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47 Comments
Why work when you can sell your vote for free stuff???
Food Stamps!! Since when did we start calling EBT cards food stamps….oh ya…taxes are now revenue….if it is good enough for the military…it should be good enough for public assistance…grab a plate and get in line right in back of the men and women fighting for you and your free food!!!
I'm thinking 50% of all food stamps are bartered for crack cocaine.
That's a conservative estimate on my part……………it's probably much higher.
"as well as a list of recommended federal reforms that would reduce waste, inefficiency, and abuse in the food stamp program."
Here's a first step toward reform, block grant the entire program to the states, and get the most corrupt and inefficient entity on the face of the earth, the federal government, OUT OF IT.
So we have food stamps. If we focused on cutting energy costs, food prices would drop for everyone.
if it was just food it wouldn't be a problem.
But this is a commodity, and commodities have value. You may not be able to buy booze- OR drugs- with food stamps. But you can certainly TRADE them for said subsatnces, albeit at pennies on the dollar.
But 'free' things have little value, and since there is very little in the way of TRUE hunger in this country, food stamps
are considered 'perks' to be dealt with at one's own discretion. Grad students using it to further their recreational spending while busing tables in tony NY eateries. Nice.
It is easily THE most abused program in the entitlement system…
Well, since this is a HIGHLY illegal program, there's no way to actually "reform" it…
A simple equation:
Government + 'free' = fraud and corruption.
With all due respect, it is not just a responsibility to taxpayers Mr. Sessions. That responsibility is to all Citizens and the Constitution that is supposed to be the standard bearer of that which is to be protected and defended.
It is ridiculous how much money is just handed out in the form of food stamps (which are nothing more than "free" limited-use debit cards). Even more ridiculous is the level of fraud in the vein of selling the pin numbers and use of the card for 50 cents on the dollar. In actuality, the swipe cards were billed as a way to make fraud easier to track, it has indeed facilitated easier selling of them. Not long ago there was an effort to force a picture on the cards, but a true aspect did come up that doomed it. For some of those getting this intended help, it is impossible for them to shop for themselves. Others do their shopping for them and a picture ID is disastrous on that front.
So how can we resolve the open fraud that is like a trite joke?
We supply hungry people food, rather than money to buy it. If they are truly in need of food, they will have no problem visiting a food bank as opposed to the grocery store. Some complain that they will not be afforded the ability to eat what they want. To them, well, they have to be told that choosing what you want to eat comes along with paying for it yourself. Pretty simple, really.
No doubt. The question is how to deal with that. I thought about biometrics attached to the card, but even that can be gamed. Then I thought about drug testing. That could help, but here in Fl, the ACLU is suing the state for requiring drug tests for welfare recipients. Means testing won't work because most crack heads are of pretty low means.
So how do you fix it? Short of eliminating the program, block granting might be the best thing. Get the program closest to the local community with limited funding. That's the only way you can incentivize anyone running the program to go after the fraud.
"if it was just food it wouldn't be a problem."
That's food for thought.
Out of the mouths of babes, and old men……..
How about this: If someone needs help getting enough food to eat let them go to the local distribution center and they can pick up all the rice, beans and powdered milk they want.
I can't even count the number of times I have been in line in the grocery store and the person in front of me buys over $100 worth of steaks, chips and soda with food stamps then pulls a roll of $20's out of their pocket to pay for their beer and cigarettes.
Easy. Get rid of the Fed pgm. That's the correct way to "deal with it".
Stand outside any WalMart with a $100 bill in habd and double your money in food stamps.
We've got the fattest people, on the face of the earth ,on welfare…..
God, save the Republic…
The quickest way to lower the cost of your food is to raise it yourself! Doesn't take a engineering or ag degree, just the ability to tell the difference between a edible plant and a weed. Unfortunatley it does take ambition and patience, neither of which are in large supply. And think of the "energy" we would save without the trucking and production fuel costs. So what's stopping "US"? I raise my own food in a small, sustainable enviorment, just like my New World Order wants me to.
I thought the same thing, basically "government cheese." Yes, food banks, but as constitutionalists, how do we justify even that role? Would we call it "compassionate constitutionalism?"
I'd say the first thing that has to happen is to take the program out of Washington, and give it over to the states, where there is no restriction to administer public aid. The states should also encourage the involvement of churches and non-religious groups to help with the program. The closer these things get to the local community, the better the chances are that they'll be able to reduce fraud.
True.
Feeding the hungry is CHRISTian work, not goobermints.
iI juat saw a report a few weeks ago about a chiropractor and his wife getting big money in food stamps and housing support. They had been getting this money for several years, even though the house they lived in was worth over a million dollars. If the idiots running the programs looked at any of the information these folks proviided it should h been easy to see they did not need help.
The new debit cards they are issuing here in the west allow food stamps to be spent in fast food restaurants. How dumb is that? It's time for a complete overhaul of ALL entitlement programs. They need real checks and balances put in place. There also needs to be verifications that the information provided by applicants is correct. In the age of the internet this should not be hard to accomplish.
If unemployment continues at these high levels we may need to consider some kind of work progam to have people earn their continued benefits. That would cut off all the lazy people with their hands out anyway.
"We've got the fattest people, on the face of the earth ,on welfare….."
Brings to mind the Great and Powerful Mooch (thanks for that). You'd think that since she's so concerned with obesity and "food deserts" in our poorest neighborhoods, she would support restricting food stamp purchases to fruits, grains, and vegetables.
What are the chances of THAT happening?
you can't 'crash a system' by being smart with policy.
So this stuff only makes sense in the most PERVERSE of ways. But when viewed from that perspective it all sort of makes sense, eh?…
Why did it take so long to start processes like this one? There needs to be so many more investigations into programs like these. Cuts in all programs that hand out freebies would get us out of debt in a jiffy. It's about time someone started looking out for taxpaying American citizens for a change.
I say we take the gubmit completely out of the food equation. Stop the redistributive food stamp scam and return the money to the taxpayer. Let the private sector go back to contributing to faith-based and other charitable organizations, which are leaner, local and better able to meet community needs. That would take care of most of the problem. There are very few people, though admittedly some, who require true oversight by Uncle Sam.
The government is just too big.
Government should not be in the business of feeding people, solve the problem by shutting down the business (SNAP). Let individual communities solve the problem…key here is INDIVIDUALS solve problems, not government.
No, we have people who decide they want to help their fellow man (there are plenty of do gooders out there) open up food pantries. They take donations and dole out foodstuff packages to those truly in need. If someone shows up three weeks straight in their escalade looking for a handout, well, there is that whole, "we refuse to provide service to those we decide to refuse service to because it is our right to do so" thing kick in.
I say we had over the "program" to the individual rather than the state. There is no closer to the community than the Individual.
Americans are a kind people hence nobody will starve. Those able will figure out that they have to work for what they "want", being left to the choice of another based on "need" if they choose not to. Those who truly "need" will be taken care of, I am sure of it, by that demonstrated good nature.
Right this minute, I could game the system and pull a roughly 1200 dollar a month turn around. I could stop spending my own money on groceries and instead soak up that EBT gravy. I would end up with twice the groceries with my money left in my pocket. So why don't I do so?
Well, some of us "poor" folks out here actually have a conscience along with the understanding that somebody has to pay for everything politicians claim is free. Besides, food tastes better when you know you bought it with your own money rather than money snaked away from another.
Sure, it is true that there aren't any lobsters boiling up here and steaks are sure far and few between, and I could easily change that in an instant – and for freeeeeeeeee- but then I would have to live with that. I would rather eat what I can afford than be eaten up from the inside – by guilt.
If only that sentiment would spread across this nation……..
When did the embarrassment of bumming off another endlessly wear of in this country? When did personal pride expire for so many? What happened to the sense of personal accomplishment of being able to say that no matter hard it is, no matter what sacrifice it takes, we made it on our own?
Easier: Can only be redeemed for Spam. The real Spam.
(The stuff in the can. I'm not not referring to the stuff in your InBox. We don't want to go there, too many opportunities for misundermastanding me. Too many overloaded terms.)
"Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack" Yeah he'll get right on it after he fires all the people that are responsible for all the "PIGFORD" discrimination claims that have NEVER been verified in any way shape or form!
Slim to none….
Its the Piven plan. Get as many Americans hooked on entitlements as possible to collapse the system.
Ha. I love that principled position.
I have to tell you a quick story. Unfortunately, in my extended family I have a few government sponges. I too could "qualify" for the gov't goodies, but refuse. Not long ago I had the most amazing conversation with the extended family members. They took it upon themselves to explain to me all the "free" stuff I could be getting. When I told them that I neither want it or need it, they reacted as if I had three heads. They were incredulous that I wouldn't want the "free" stuff. They really were PERPLEXED. Like as if THAT is the way the world works. They know no other possibility.
It boggles my mind, but that's where the state of mind in this country has gotten to. I wish I knew how to get people like this to think differently, but maybe it's just not possible until a new generation comes along.
I know.
Let's eat them….
The reason for the sinificant increase in foodstamp collectors is the ease at which these freebies are to get, also there is no more humiliation.
Unemployed people when I was coming up had to report to the unemployment office stand in one line that when you got to the counter you had to show proof that you attempted to get a job that week. Then you would stand in another line to receive your check. This all took about 4 hours with travel to the office and back. I collected for 2 weeks after I was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1977. I took a job cutting grass with a small landscape company. I had degrees and I took a job that apparently now only illegal mexicans can have. This is due to the public thinking they deserve pay for nothing. I am not against any helping hand but a helping hand is to help you while you get back to work it is not oweed to you. The politicians have screwed this country by buying votes all based on entitlements. Wake up america you are not too much above just taking a job. I want oversight on where my tax dollars go!!!!
That is the sickness that has gripped this nation.
No Accountability.
Obama thrives on this lawlessness.
Oregon received a 5 MILLION dollar bonus for signing up a large number of people to receive food stamps.
http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2011/09/state-g...
I'd rather pound a wick into their fat heads…
Then, at least, they'd be useful…
the guys i know on food stamps use it to buy food and use their money they make under the table to buy pills which they sell a portion of to keep it all flowing, i see them in nice cars usually living somewhere crappy.
works for them but i don't like paying thru a surrigate (food stamps, ebt) to feed the drug trade.
this is what i see of all the "social programs i'm accustomed to.
i'm not saying get rid of em all, just drug test everyobdy though now i know of ways where they get around drug testing by timing testing and use to show as clean.
wtf was that all about
another thing that smells of corrupt bull.
This makes me sick. My mom doesn't qualify for food stamps. She gets a $1,000 for being a military widow and another $1,000 for being disabled. She has one crappy car that's paid for and trying to keep it running. She had to file for bankrupt just to keep her house. She doesn't have any credit cards or debit cards.
I agree that this is fraud and needs to be stopped.
Obesity is epidemic in the country among the so-called 'poor'. The Federal food stamp program should be zeroed out and let the lazy, ignorant marshmallow a$$es go back to getting food from charities and soup kitchens. If previous are not enough to meet the demand, then States can provide a subsidy of some kind for these people to get rice & soy beans to provide them a subsistence, and they can work to earn their own money for anything above/beyond previous.
so does Satan and his minions.
YOU make the connection…
Florida and other states that are requiring drug tests prior to receiving benefits is a good start. The ACLU, of course, is going to try and fight it in court however they will lose. The government can place restrictions on all benefit programs including income, drug use, etc. In particular the SNAP is intended to assist people so they can improve their financial situation since drug testing is used for many positions including things like child care centers; it is perfectly legal to test SNAP recipients prior to them receiving benefits since most recipients also have children in their care.
Shouldn't that be cantankerous old men? Like us?
Food stamps, welfare, unemployment benefits were supposed to be temporary fixes to help folks over the rough spots. The dems have seen to it that it has become a way of life. We are rapidly running out of taxpayers to provide the incessant funding of these programs. No wait, we can just increase the taxes on the rich. Has anybody ever thought of this before?
More than just food stamps.
http://www.northwestohio.com/news/story.aspx?id=6...
"alleging that Silverstein has been collecting around $1,200 in monthly federal rent subsidies for his wife to live in his $1.2 million home on Lake Washington.
In addition to receiving over $1,000 in monthly housing assistance, Shimonova has received state and federal disability money, and food stamps since 2003. Court records are said to show that the couple traveled around the world to exotic locations and donated to charities."
Can you say "federal POUND ME IN THE ASS prison"?
You can find some factual information about SNAP at this link:
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=...
Enjoy!
Hunger in America: The Myth
One should imbibe alarms about pervasive hunger skeptically.
•Free school lunch kids waste 46% more food than regular price kids. How can poor kids be hungrier?
•School lunch waste is about 30%. Where’s the hunger?
•School lunch provides all the calories a kid needs; then poor kids go home and eat the food stamp pop, candy bars, take-and-bake pizza and donuts.
•A family of 6 can get $23,900 per year in food stamps, free school food and food bank food. A non-recipient family of 6 usually spends $11,500 per year on food.
•A family of 6 can earn up to $55,000 and qualify for food stamps and Women, Infants and Children, WIC.
•The poor are adding weight faster than the non-poor.
•Arguments as to why the poor make bad choices with food stamps do not stand scrutiny.
•The food stamp program this year costs $77 billion. Mr. Obama wants to add $9 billion to that. A healthy food list reform, along the lines of the WIC program, could cut spending in half; no recipient would go hungry and the nation’s deficit would be substantially reduced.
•At least 57% of food stamp spending is for foods high in high fructose corn syrup, cholesterol, fat and sodium. Food stamps buy unhealthy food.
•The USDA and the Obama Administration are aggressively expanding food stamps, free school lunch and after school supper.
• The USDA rebuffed New York City’s request to drop soda pop from permissible food stamp purchases.
http://montana.watchdog.org/files/2011/12/Hunger-...
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