Yes... the Trump administration has come upon the solution to end Food Stamp fraud permanently...... do exactly what the program is named for -- deliver FOOD not money to recipients. White House wants to deliver food to the poor, Blue Apron-style http://www.wral.com/white-house-wants-to-deliver-food-to-the-poor-blue-apron-style/17334243/ Think of it as Blue Apron for food stamp recipients. That's how Budget Director Mick Mulvaney described the Trump administration's proposal to replace nearly half of poor Americans' monthly cash benefits with a box of food. It would affect households that receive at least $90 a month in food stamps, or roughly 38 million people. "USDA America's Harvest Box is a bold, innovative approach to providing nutritious food to people who need assistance feeding themselves and their families -- and all of it is homegrown by American farmers and producers," said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in a statement. "It maintains the same level of food value as SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] participants currently receive, provides states flexibility in administering the program, and is responsible to the taxpayers." Part of the president's fiscal 2019 budget blueprint, the idea immediately sparked concerns and questions among consumer advocates and food retailers. They feared it would upend a much-needed benefit for more than 80% of those in the program. Here's how it would work: Instead of receiving all their food stamp funds, households would get a box of food that the government describes as nutritious and 100% grown and produced in the U.S. The so-called USDA America's Harvest Box would contain items such as shelf-stable milk, juice, grains, cereals, pasta, peanut butter, beans, canned meat, poultry or fish, and canned fruits and vegetables. The box would be valued at about half of the SNAP recipient's monthly benefit. The remainder of their benefits would be given to them on electronic benefit cards, as before. The administration didn't detail exactly how families would receive the food boxes, saying states could distribute them through existing infrastructure, partnerships or directly to residences through delivery services. The proposal would save nearly $130 billion over 10 years, as well as improve the nutritional value of the program and reduce the potential for fraud, according to the administration. Consumer advocates, however, questioned whether the federal government could save that much money by purchasing and distributing food on its own. Also, they were concerned that families would not know what food they would get in advance nor have any choice regarding what they receive. Plus, it could be difficult for families to pick up the box, especially if they don't have a car. "It's a risky scheme that threatens families' ability to put food on the table," said Stacy Dean, vice president for food assistance policy at the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
That family already can't put food on the table, thus the SNAP usage and reliance on my tax money to feed them. Since it's my money that is delivering this food, I believe it's worth the risk to make sure food is getting on the table instead of liquor, cigs and dope going to Mom and a mythical Dad.
Additionally, there is no reason whatsoever that Kentucky Fried Chicken or the local 7-11 should be able to accept food stamps. If you are on food stamps, you should not be buying cheetoes or gummy bears or snickers bars with them.
Or go back to the good old days in communist Russia with state-owned stores. That would work far better. The beneficiaries would probably complain that their "Blue Apron" style delivery didn't make it up the four flights of stairs, or whatever.
Uhm, people already get both. Around here they get EBT and also get large food boxes from several organizations in town and many get WIC as well.
If you're referring to my post, you're missing the point. As in, remove the "EBT welcome here" from non-government sources. Charities/organizations can do what they want, as long as they abide by community standards.
There is plenty of fraud in tax-payer funded pharmaceutical perscriptions as well. The recipient says his back hurts, gets a perscription, and sells the pills for cash. The cash is then used for gambling, cigarettes, alcohol, or “better drugs”. The solution to this problem is harder to figure out. Anyone have any ideas?
I’m all for limiting what can be bought with food stamps. Lobbyists have destroyed the program. If you look at WIC, it is a highly successful program that dictates what can be bought based on nutrition. Food Stamps, now SNAP, is actually a nutrition program and should be treated as such. Just keep in mind the real fight here is against lobbyists for convenience stores and junk food companies. Now, should the government be delivering food? No. That’s stupid.
No not referring to your post just pointing out that many foodstamp recipients also get food boxes already.
No, the REAL fight is to teach the recipients and potential future recipients some basic home economics. Household finances and nutritional cooking skills. Lobbyists are unable to pry my money from my hands. I think the problem is that which is not earned is not valued.