The $500 billion, five-year Farm Bill passed by the Senate Monday would cut food stamps by $4 billion over the next 10 years, but House Republicans are hoping to secure a cut of at least $20 billion. House Democrats are having none of it, and are engaging in a high-profile SNAP Challenge, in which they limit their weekly food budget to the food stamp equivalent, to show the devastating effects the cuts could have on those dependent on food assistance. In practice, though, the publicity photos seem to show clueless adults who’ve never seen a grocery store before.
Meet John. While President Obama is preparing to take the first family on a $100 million trip to Africa, these heartbreaking photos show Rep. Conyers, a member of Congress since 1965, subsisting on scrambled eggs and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
My first meal of the day taking the #SNAPChallenge: scrambled eggs, milk, & a piece of white bread. pic.twitter.com/IGX0CNvIuX
— John Conyers, Jr. (@RepJohnConyers) June 13, 2013
The horror!! MT @repjohnconyers With just $1.50 to spend, my #SNAPChallenge lunch is a PBandJ sandwich w/milk pic.twitter.com/uatS1HOeCM
— ¡El Sooopèrr! ن c137 (@SooperMexican) June 15, 2013
@SooperMexican @repjohnconyers Lunch of choice of thousands each day.
— Dana (@Grandbulldoggie) June 15, 2013
.@SooperMexican A PB&J sandwich costs about 28 cents (33 if you use strawberry) so @repjohnconyers has ~$1.22 to spare.
— Renna (@RennaW) June 15, 2013
Rep. Jim McGovern ponders the vast emptiness of his shopping cart.
Shopping for #SNAPChallenge. $31.50 food budget for the week. We must prevent SNAP cuts & #EndHungerNow. pic.twitter.com/4LtxB0fDQW
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) June 12, 2013
Again, not a lot of time to prepare meals today. A shredded cheese wrap and carrot will have to do. #snapchallenge pic.twitter.com/utr6GOKjHg
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) June 13, 2013
https://twitter.com/GOPMommy/status/345263814226358272
@SooperMexican @RepMcGovern #SadTrombone
— William Newton ن (@wbdnewton) June 15, 2013
Notice how @RepMcGovern and others are basically using #snapchallenge as nothing more than photo ops? Such frauds.
— HouseRepEEE (@EEElverhoy) June 15, 2013
With life in the balance, Rep. Joe Crowley carefully weighed each banana.
Weighing bananas while shopping for #snapchallenge – every cent counts when you only have $31.50 to spend pic.twitter.com/5VHajNoWRy
— Joe Crowley (@JoeCrowleyNY) June 12, 2013
Moment of truth while checking out #snapchallenge pic.twitter.com/739k9b0zma
— Joe Crowley (@JoeCrowleyNY) June 12, 2013
Rep. Mark Pocan devoted some time to coupon research. According to his blog entry, it took him 45 minutes to spend $27. Could Congress try to maintain that pace?
After almost 45 minutes, I waited, somewhat anxiously, at the register for my items to be rung up. My final tally: $27.01. Right at my goal—I have $4.49 left to purchase items I may not realize I need yet. Here’s what I’ll be (mostly) subsisting on for the next week: Crunchy peanut butter, Mac & Cheese, cereal, Big Cup Noodles, Low fat milk, Boca Burgers, a loaf of bread, and oranges.
About to go food shopping for #SNAPChallenge. Studying coupons. I get $31.50 for next week. pic.twitter.com/wO37D1lvIi
— Rep. Mark Pocan (@repmarkpocan) June 12, 2013
With my final bill. Very hard to try to be healthy & afford food at $4.50 a day. #SNAPChallenge pic.twitter.com/EG5XtaxAQj
— Rep. Mark Pocan (@repmarkpocan) June 12, 2013
My first lunch on #SNAPChallenge: wheat bread, Boca burger w/ ketchup & half an orange. I have $4.50 of food for day pic.twitter.com/w3vWxKFLae
— Rep. Mark Pocan (@repmarkpocan) June 13, 2013
Did my food shopping for the #foodstampchallenge. Here I am adding up what I could afford, my receipt, my food. pic.twitter.com/X6BhJbnvhm
— Rep. Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) June 13, 2013
I can stop doing the #SNAPchallenge if I want, kids facing hunger can't. RT & say NO to $20 billion in SNAP cuts. pic.twitter.com/mzjySNRhOm
— Rep. Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) June 14, 2013
@RepTedDeutch Seriously?! $700 a month for a family of four and your complaining?!
— Matt Dawson (@SaintRPh) June 15, 2013
@AmericnElephant Do those kids also get free breakfast & free/reduced lunch at school? @RepTedDeutch
— Allison (@Alianora84) June 15, 2013
https://twitter.com/AmericnElephant/status/345759199835328512
It's the first day of my #SNAPchallenge. This is what $1.50 gets you for lunch – can of tuna and an apple. #SNAPworks pic.twitter.com/PfZ2zT63VM
— MichelleLujanGrisham (@RepLujanGrisham) June 13, 2013
What does a lunch during the #SNAPchallenge look like? A cheese sandwich & 5 slices of canned peach. pic.twitter.com/6jH1Sx3k6n
— Rep. Doris Matsui (@DorisMatsui) June 14, 2013
Stop! How much more of this horror do we have to see? Isn’t there any other way?
If Democrats stopped killing job creation and making food cost more with taxes and regs we wouldn't need the #SNAPChallenge.
— Rep. Steve Stockman (@StockmanSenate) June 15, 2013
Related:
FreedomWorks’ Kristina Ribali: Weaning people off food stamps is real SNAP challenge
Berry’d Alive: Eleanor Holmes Norton shows how not to stretch your food stamp budget
Tweeter debunks Rep. Keith Ellison’s SNAP recipient statistic
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