14 states sue Trump administration over food stamp rule

[babylonsister]

14 states sue Trump administration over food stamp rule
By CATHERINE BOUDREAU
01/16/2020 01:48 PM EST
Updated: 01/16/2020 02:14 PM EST


A coalition that includes attorneys general in 14 states, the District of Columbia and New York City are suing the Agriculture Department over a plan to impose stricter work requirements on millions of food stamp recipients.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday by mostly Democratic-led states, argues that USDA unlawfully limited states' discretion to exempt certain adults from work requirements for an extended period of time based on local employment conditions.

"Under well-settled law, the executive branch does not get to go forth with policies that Congress specifically rejected," District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine said in a call with reporters. He and New York State Attorney General Tish James are leading the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

After a bitter partisan fight over the 2018 farm bill, congressional leaders agreed not to include sweeping changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that were pushed by a Republican-led House. But last year, the Trump administration began its own effort to rein in the program, arguing that the government should promote self-sufficiency when the U.S. economy is strong.

USDA recently finalized changes to SNAP that will apply to recipients who are able-bodied adults without children or other dependents. The changes take effect in April and are estimated to kick 688,000 adults off the program out of the more than 34 million people participating across the country.

“Denying access to vital SNAP benefits would only push hundreds of thousands of already vulnerable Americans into greater economic uncertainty," James said. "In so doing, states will have to grapple with rising health care and homelessness costs that will result from this shortsighted and ill-conceived policy.”

more...

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/16/13-states-sue-trump-administration-over-food-stamp-rule-099852

[The Blue Flower]

1. So glad to know this

This is the kind of pushback we the people need.

[Newest Reality]

2. Fantastic!

What a relief to see some push back at the draconian measures the Trump Regime has been imposing in its war on the poor, (or anyone needy, vulnerable, weak, sick, etc.) Predators need to be kept at bay if they are not caged and muzzled since they have voracious appetites and can be dangerous to an entire society.

Bravo! Thanks for shoving back the dark cretins back.