New budget resurrects controversial 'harvest box' proposal as part of welfare reform
Source: ABC
The Trump administration's newly released budget proposal revives a widely panned idea that some food stamp benefits could be sent in a delivery box, one of many changes that advocates say would undermine programs intended to help the most vulnerable people in the country.
Critics say the budget signals the administration will continue to pursue welfare reform through additional work requirements to programs like food assistance, housing programs, and Medicaid.
USDA's budget mentions the "America's Harvest Box" program, which was first mentioned last year as a way to deliver some food stamp benefits to recipients through a "Blue Apron-style" delivery. The proposal was widely criticized by critics who said it put a huge burden on states who would have to implement the program and would take away recipients' options to buy fresh food with their benefits and provide less healthy processed.
But administration officials knocked down past criticism of the idea this week and said they would pursue the idea again even after Congress rejected it.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/new-budget-resurrects-controversial-harvest-box-proposal-as-part-of-welfare-reform/ar-BBUGNWh?li=BBnbcA1
Mr.Bill
(24,284 posts)I have a friend who owns a discount grocery franchise. He says some months 70% of their business is SNAP. He employs over 50 people and his business would not exist without SNAP. He's one republican who thinks this government benefit is just fine.
Codeine
(25,586 posts)and food stamp benefits were often crucial to our success.
riversedge
(70,204 posts)tanyev
(42,552 posts)groundloop
(11,518 posts)I'm absolutely certain one of Tiny's golfing buddies or donors would profit from this.
ToxMarz
(2,166 posts)joost5
(421 posts)jmowreader
(50,557 posts)It'll come in a box with "America's Harvest Box" printed on it in foot-high letters so everyone can see what it is. It'll be delivered in a truck that has "Harvest Box" written on it in huge letters so it embarrasses anyone receiving aid. The box will be full of food no one likes - canned liver, anyone?
One big reason for going from printed food coupons to EBT cards was to try to make the poor slightly less humiliated. The "Harvest Box" program's whole intent is to make the poor even more humiliated than they already are.
There is no low to which Donald Trump won't sink.
videohead5
(2,172 posts)The states more than ever. They would have pay people to deliver some of these boxes to the elderly and disabled.
rpannier
(24,329 posts)The boxes would have to packed with different things for dietary needs. Elderly (and young) can't eat certain foods because of digestive issues. People with food allergies would be affected
The cost would be ridiculous
videohead5
(2,172 posts)It's just a stupid idea to try to discourage people from signing up for SNAP.
kskiska
(27,045 posts)rpannier
(24,329 posts)smb
(3,471 posts)first mentioned last year as a way to deliver some food stamp benefits to recipients through a "Blue Apron-style" delivery
Clearly, this framing was designed to equate the program with fancy expensive concierge services (another variation on the "welfare queen Cadillac" meme).
Cryptoad
(8,254 posts)what u reckon a no-bid contract to deliver Snap Care Food is worth....????
keithbvadu2
(36,788 posts)Set up a new employee intensive gov't program.
dalton99a
(81,472 posts)Kill his budget dead and throw it in the trash.
SergeStorms
(19,199 posts)with his wholesale cuts to Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and welfare reform, this budget has absolutely NO chance of being passed without major reconstruction. All so he can cut the monstrous deficits he's created by getting his tax give-away to the wealthy and corporations through Congress. We must fight Trump and the GOP tooth and nail on this one.
joost5
(421 posts)SergeStorms
(19,199 posts)Dopers_Greed
(2,640 posts)Isn't the government directly feeding people even more socialist than giving them money to spend at businesses?
yellowcanine
(35,699 posts)Just like the "good old days" commodity foods program of the 1950's.