Food stamp recipients seem to be a problem according to Alabama’s Republican Sen. Arthur Orr (Decatur). They have become such a problem that Orr has sponsored a bill that would not allow a food stamp recipient to own a car.
According to the Montgomery Advisor:
“The bill in question, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, creates new restrictions on programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps, and Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), which provides monthly payments to very poor families with children.”
They also point out that:
“The bill would also change asset calculations, which currently allow those receiving benefits to own items like cars.”
So under this bill, if you have a car, you won’t qualify for benefits. I’m sure that will come as great news to working single mothers and the elderly. Also, what about active soldiers and veterans that own cars but rely on SNAP? As Orr said in an interview last week:
“We want to get people working back in the workforce and not hanging out for public benefits because they can.”
As Occupy Democrats quickly points out:
“It’s particularly hurtful because it would force families to choose between being able to take their kids to school or being able to feed them. Worse, the bill assumes that people are simply waiting for jobs – but with a state 6.2% unemployment rate and some county rates reaching a shocking 15.3%, the jobs simply aren’t there.”
This bill is not without opposition though. It is also reported that Sen. Roger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) pounded the table in fury and said:
“I’m going to do whatever I can to stop this. I am not going to let you do this to these people. I am not going to let people starve.”
Maybe Mr. Orr should put more effort into creating more jobs first rather than blaming those affected by the lack of them. What if someone scraped everything they could together just to buy an old $500 car at an auction, and that’s how they get to work and drop off the kids? Once again, let’s not forget about our military personnel that rely on these benefits also.
One figure that many do not want to acknowledge also is that the SNAP error rate was at an all-time low as of 2013. Also, SNAP fraud was cut by three-quarters during the 15-years prior. These type of statistics can be easily followed by visiting the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
When it comes to food stamp recipients, no one likes the thought of an able-bodied individual abusing a system designed to help those that truly need it, especially when it comes from our hard earned tax dollars. But penalizing someone because they have a car and truly needs these programs will not solve the problem. In fact, it will hurt those that need them most.
h/t to Occupy Democrats
