The Republican-controlled Agriculture Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives voted on Friday to cut food stamps by $844 million, saying the proposal would affect only a small portion of food stamp spending. In fact, about 300,000, or one percent of Americans who receive food stamp aid would lose benefits because of tighter eligibility rules.
The vote came hours after a new Agriculture Department report showed more Americans are struggling to put food on the table. The report also found 38.2 million Americans are food insecure.
With a soaring deficit and growing national debt, President George W. Bush has pledged in recent months to cut spending and return to fiscal responsibility. Cutting social programs like food stamps first, however, is starting at the wrong end of a big problem.
The Iraq War, three major hurricanes and an economy moving sideways are ballooning the deficit to record levels. Currently, the near $500 billion national deficit is greater than the Department of Defense's yearly budget.
One of the more notable provisions of the proposed cuts would deny food stamps to people who currently receive them because they are eligible for help through other welfare programs, but have incomes above food-stamp levels. The provision would result in the elimination of free school meals for 40,000 children.
During the past several years, following an expansion of social programs under President Bill Clinton, states have used welfare-reform laws to respond to local needs. Republicans on the committee proposing the cuts maintain that states have taken the opportunity to expand food-stamp eligibility beyond what the federal government intended.
Social programs should be maintained and screened regularly for those taking advantage of government aid. But Republican cuts in social programs cannot be the solution to a rising deficit.
In 2005 the federal government spent $352 billion - nearly 20 percent of the federal budget - on interest payments to the holders of the U.S. national debt, a product of high yearly deficits. Asian banks, namely those in China, are feverishly buying up American debt for leverage in future talks and conflicts, such as Taiwanese democracy or trade agreements.
Gutting social programs and stripping them of resources to offset the staggering deficit and reduce spending is not fiscally responsible. Republicans should focus instead on current programs aimed at stimulating economic growth and spurring productivity. And, perhaps, even the dreaded notion of raising taxes.
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