There is more hunger among the poor than there is humanity in the Trump administration.
A week ago, many may have thought the season of goodwill was still in our hearts despite the emerging crisis in Washington, D.C.
But on the same day we editorialized that government data — on poverty, hunger and homelessness — was a better reason for giving than, “It’s the season,” the Trump administration finalized a new rule that could leave nearly 700,000 without food stamps.
Currently, childless adults are limited to three months of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits within any 36-month period unless they work at least 20 hours a week. However, the government has let states waive the work requirement in areas with a jobless rate of 2.5% or higher. The new rule, which goes into effect April 1, raises that threshold to 6%.
Clearly, the announcement of this change coming in the middle of the holiday season and going into effect days before Easter might appear callous to some or even irreligious.
Not to us. No, this rule change is simply a cynical effort to undermine programs that serve needy households that have no political clout.
What’s especially difficult to stomach about such actions is that some portray them as out of concern for recipients’ “moral character.”
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said, “Government can be a powerful force for good, but government dependency has never been the American dream.”
He’s right, but living below the poverty level is not the American dream, either. Nor does not having enough food in your home to feed your children. We take the position that the general welfare of all citizens, including the poor ones, is a big part of our government’s responsibility.
The government has been a force of good for veterans, the disabled, the retired, the elderly, the sick and the poor.
In fiscal 2017, about 7.8% of all SNAP recipients were nondisabled childless adults, the target population of the latest rule; their average income was about a third of the federal poverty level, or $375 per month.
Their average monthly food stamp benefit came to $157 per person, or about $5.20 per day.
Some will argue that this rule change fits nicely within the framework of the falling unemployment rate.
But those on the front lines of social service organization will tell you funding needs to be increased to serve those in need, not cut.
We could argue this rule change only increases administrative costs for states, shortchanges retailers’ bottom line and so on.
But we’ll stick to arguing what’s important year round, not when it’s supposedly in season — goodwill to all.
