GOP Governor: No ‘Prepared Foods’ On SNAP, Like Spaghetti Sauce, Pickles And Deli Meat

[Contrary1]

Seriously, because everyone knows it's so much cheaper to buy fresh veggies and make your own.

"Maine Governor Paul Lepage is on another LeRampage against the poor. Well known as a crass corporate puppet who keeps dangling the shiny object of poor-shaming in front of the ignorant in order to keep the focus from his lack of performance and handouts to the wealthy, LePage is again hitting the poor in the face with restrictions and allegations of welfare and food stamp fraud.

His past LeRampages have ended with some of the most insulting public poor-shaming in the nation. He’s said that the 32,000 unemployed Mainers are that way because they’re lazy, and that welfare recipients in Maine are too busy getting high to look for jobs.

LePage ranks 45th in the country in job creation. His tax policies are nothing but a slap in the face to average Mainers, and gifts to wealthy donors. He has refused to expand Medicaid, leaving tens of thousands of Mainers in the “Medicaid Gap” between being eligible for assistance and federal subsidies.

<snip>

Many people on food stamps who buy items like these once a month to maximize their benefits may be out of luck, as this LeRampage would require them to instead spend three times as much on fresh cucumbers, vinegar, tomatoes, spices, olive oil and other expensive items rather than a big jar of Vlasics or Prego..."

http://www.ifyouonlynews.com/politics/gop-governor-no-prepared-foods-on-snap-like-spaghetti-sauce-pickles-and-deli-meat/

[Autumn]

1. These fucking idiots are just plain fucking mean.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

26. Not about their stupidty, it is about their HATE for poor people, mainly because they

perceive most poor as being black and they hate black people.

I have high blood pressure and a history of heart issues so I cant respond appropriately, an APPROPRIATE response to this and hundreds of other things they do would jeopardize my life, literally.

I have to stay calm, the behavour of these punks jeopardizes that everyday.

[daleanime]

29. Amen.....

can't believe how hateful some have become.

[FarPoint]

32. The cost of using raw, fresh ingredients.... food stamps can't cover it.

Secondly, the cookware to make meals from scratch successfully, very expensive.

They want to starve the poor.

[roguevalley]

41. fuckers. I loathe them. may they eat dirt some day and know what it feels to be nothing.

[Takket]

2. .

sorry, I can't think of anything more intelligent to say to something so stupid.

[TampaAnimusVortex]

3. They wont rest until their handing out Soylent...

http://www.soylent.me/

Soylent is a powdered meal replacement product, advertised as a "staple meal" that meets all nutritional requirements for an average adult.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soylent_%28drink%29

[hifiguy]

4. I am increasingly convinced that is in fact the reichwing end game. nt

[tanyev]

5. Don't conservatives always whine about liberal overregulation and micromanagement?

[JHB]

23. IOKIYAR

[one_voice]

6. You can go to the dollar store and get a can..

of Hunts spaghetti sauce...you can't make it for less than that. Food costs are ridiculous. Freakin' green peppers are $2.49lb what the hell, green peppers use to be one of the cheapest things you could buy.

It's not just the cost, it's the time. Many people on food stamps work. So, now in addition to working, taking care of the house/kids, they're supposed to make all their food from scratch..

This is sickening.

[exboyfil]

10. Our green peppers

usually are about $0.70/each.

You are right about prepared spaghetti sauce being at least equal if not cheaper than making it from canned tomatoes, and canned tomatoes are cheaper than fresh Roma.

On the other hand most spaghetti sauces are nasty concoctions, but I would much prefer educating and encouraging over going after something like spaghetti sauce. As you said the time factor is also huge. Also acquiring the spices for making a decent spaghetti sauce is expensive.

One thing about food stamps. We have already made a paternalistic decision by using such a mechanism. Why? Should relief be based on all cash payments? Once we make a decision in that regard, then some minimum level of real food should be an expectation. Apparently energy drinks and candy comes under the umbrella of food stamps. Is this a good idea. Of course they put chocolate into survival kits for a reason. It offers ready calories and energy, and, if you are not fighting your weight, a perfectly acceptable addition to your diet.

[one_voice]

14. I don't know why ours are so expensive...

green peppers--I can get them on sale sometimes.

I have to be careful when I buy sauce--watch the sodium, sugar etc. I make my own when I can but I'm able to do that, not everyone is.

The spices are another cost to factor in.

I don't want to babysit people, if we're going give them the help then let them get what they want. I wish they'd make healthier foods more affordable. That might make a difference on what people bought.

[SoCalDem]

24. You can make many (most?) things cheaper from scratch

BUT you have to have the time.. Having 2 or 3 low wage jobs pretty much eats up most of the day...and if you do not have freezer space to spare, making lots & freezing may not be available to you either.

[Ilsa]

35. Need instruction, too, on safe food prep.

And operating a stove for over an hour adds up also.

But there really are some simple things, that kids like also, that can be bought cheaper than made from scratch. And for a parent working long hours, an easy meal is a blessing.

[DesMoinesDem]

21. It's not true. You can still buy spaghetti sauce.

It looks like you won't be able to buy bulk grocery staples prepared by the retailer which have a tax exemption right now.
This article is poorly researched journalism.

[one_voice]

39. oh, ok....

well that's a little better. Thanks for the info.

I still don't like the silly rules they're trying to put into place. yuck.

[LeftyMom]

38. I make my own pickles because they're better, but it saves no money. If anything it costs more.

Same with spaghetti sauce. A decent home canning setup going isn't cheap. And home canners MUST use the amount of sugar a pickling recipe calls for, sugar free is only safe with commercial equipment. So you're SOL if you're diabetic and want relish, I guess...

[B2G]

7. This is just fucking insane.

I mean, what the fresh hell??

[Jefferson23]

8. Collective punishment. Make the poor so distraught and compromise their lives

enough, they'll give up and refuse the money.

This is an evil act...one only a member of the GOP could think up.

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

9. It seems to me....

...that major grocery retailers will start complaining about these restrictions soon. This has to be eating into (pun not intended) their profit.

[exboyfil]

11. Just wait for the food lobby

The corn growers are not going to like this approach (can anyone say High Fructose Corn Syrup).

[dhill926]

12. what a fucking asshole....

[DesMoinesDem]

13. This information is not correct. It only applies to food prepared by the retailer.

You can buy all the spaghetti sauce in a can and bottled pickles you want. Even the big bottles and cans.

[Retrograde]

15. Why stop there?

Those poor people have time on their hands: they should be buying whole grains and milling their own flour instead of wasting their money on ready-made loaves of bread. And why should other people have clean their fish and meats for them: just let them buy the whole carcass and gut it themselves. And summer's coming up: surely the poor can forage for fresh produce: don't blueberries grow in Maine?

Just when you think the Tea Party can't get lower it surprises you again.

[dembotoz]

16. pandering to his moron base

[betterdemsonly]

17. The governor can't pass laws

so how did this get passed without the legislature or is it just a proposal? Also if the dems cooperate with him in doing this stuff why should anyone have confidence they'll change it?

[Warren Stupidity]

18. The beatings will continue until moral improves.

Riots are not an irrational response.

[DebbieCDC]

19. How did Maine ever elect this guy?

[totodeinhere]

20. Not only did they elect him but after seeing his performance in office they

reelected him.

[Downwinder]

22. Have to make your own noodles and mill your own flour?

[etherealtruth]

25. As has been said before ...

... when did the war on poverty become a war on the poor? (yes, Reagan made it socially acceptable)

[seabeyond]

27. wow. stupid and nigh impossible as those are working jobs, little support and need easy,

yes healthy and easy.... to feed kids. wow.

what an ass.

and stupid

[lpbk2713]

28. They would have everyone eating gruel as in Dickensian times.

And working in a dirty factory from age ten until death mercifully puts an end to it.

[Initech]

31. These people would out-Scrooge Ebenezer.

[Initech]

30. You fucking peasants will eat your scrap food and top ramen and like it.

[Johonny]

33. The benefit of this program is what exactly?

Maine saves money because people starve? They starve you and then wonder why you don't work, go to school...

[stillwaiting]

34. They just can't stop kicking down and kicking down hard. They're mentally ill. nt

[Cheese Sandwich]

36. Insanity. Pandering.

[Skittles]

37. may we please get this accountability on senseless war expenses, please

I mean, WTF

[Gormy Cuss]

40. How can I put this delicately? LePage is

a fucking asshole.

[WillowTree]

42. Well, that isn't *exactly* what the story says if you actually read it.

It says that ".......it will also deny foods sold in bulk that may otherwise be taxable, such as large jars of spaghetti sauce, pickles and deli meats". That sounds like they're talking about the huge, more-or-less "institutional" size offerings. Another article that I read explains that "The proposed 'junk' food crackdown would utilize Maine's current tax system, in which certain 'grocery staples' are exempt from the state sales tax. Thus, the ban would pertain to food that isn't exempt from those taxes.......", and apparently the institutional size products fall into that category.

I sincerely doubt that a regular 26 oz. jar of Ragu would be off the list.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

43. Okay, Lepage. We get it. You hate poor people.

For fuck's sake.

[CrispyQ]

44. Produce is one of the most expensive departments in the grocery store.

If I could wish all the mean people dead, I would. Fuck you Lepage. I hope you choke on your dinner in front of your family & fall face first in your potatoes you mean, rotten fuck.

[Vinca]

45. He's an idiot.

If you're on a tight budget and short on time the pre-roasted chickens in a deli department are a good buy. Most people get a couple of meals out of them.

[derby378]

46. But-but-but it's GOD'S will that the poor be hungry as well

Amirite? Anyone? Bueller?