Congresswoman Speier Uses Steak, Vodka, & Caviar To Hammer Republicans On Food Stamp Cuts

[Tx4obama]

Last edited Thu Sep 19, 2013, 07:47 PM - Edit history (1)

Transcript:

Mr. Speaker, thank you.
You know, in my district, California 14, we have about 4,000 families who are on food stamps, but some of my colleagues have thousands and thousands more. Yet, they somehow feel like crusaders, like heroes when they vote to cut food stamps. Some of these same members travel to foreign countries under the guise of official business. They dine at lavish restaurants, eating steak, vodka and even caviar. They receive money to do this. That's right, they don't pay out of pocket for these meals. Let me give you a few examples. One member was given $127.41 a day for food on his trip to Argentina. He probably had a fare amount of steak. Another member was given $3,588 for food and lodging during a six-day trip to Russia. He probably drank a fair amount of vodka and probably even had some caviar. That particular member has 21,000 food stamp recipients in his district. One of those people who is on food stamps could live a year on what this congressman spent on food and lodging for six days. Another 20 members made a trip to Dublin, Ireland. They got $166 a day for food. These members didn't pay a dime. They received almost $200 for a single meal only for themselves. Yet, for them the idea of helping fellow Americans spend less than $5 a day makes their skin crawl. The faces of families of veterans, of farmers, of the disabled, of the working poor are not visible to them, not even when they are their own constituents.
Last week, a man named Ron Shaich wrote on his LinkdIn page. He's the founder and CEO of Panera bread. He wrote, despite wanting to fight hunger and poverty in America, he really didn't know what it was like to be truly hungry. And so Ron is taking the SNAP challenge. The millionaire food mogul is living on $4.50 a day. I've taken the snap challenge, and I can tell you it is a horrible experience. You think about food constantly. You are always hungry. But those on food stamps live on $4.50 every day, not for one week, for long into their future. That is so crushing.
Historically, food stamps have been part of the farm bill. It's that same bill that 26 corporate farmers who remain nameless get $1 million each in subsidies meant for real farmers. The taxpayers are giving $7 billion per year to large agribusiness, yet, Republicans feel SNAP programs cost us too much money. They want to cut it.
Mr. Speaker, I can stand here and say that my point is about saving food stamps from cuts. That's true. But my larger point is about us as a country, as a society, as neighbors. I'm a member of the least productive congress in the history of this country. I'm ashamed of that. To be honest, if the federal government shut down for a couple of weeks, as we keep hearing, would Americans even notice? When a government of the people or for the people becomes a government in spite of the people, then who are we really serving? If we refuse to take care of those who are the most vulnerable at a tiny fraction of the costs that, say, our defense budget, don't we cease to be true public servants? Ron Shaich is putting himself in the worn-out shoes of 48 million fellow Americans. I am ready to do the same again.
I wonder how many of my Republican colleagues would want to cut food stamps if they had taken the SNAP challenge. After all, that means no more steak, no more caviar or vodka. Based on these members' eating habits, I wonder if they could survive.
I yield back.

Related article below..

Congresswoman Uses Steak, Vodka, And Caviar To Hammer Republicans On Food Stamp Cuts

http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/democratic-congresswoman-uses-steak-vodka-and-caviar-to-hamm

Jackie Speier's Wiki BIO: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Speier

[Wait Wut]

1. Republican shaming...

...I love it.

I wonder if they hid under their chairs while she was speaking? Cowering like bad poodles that had shit on the bed.

[Ed Suspicious]

6. Doubt it. They feel no shame as far as I can tell.

[Cracklin Charlie]

7. It's the ONLY way to go!

Thank you, Congressperson Spier!

[obxhead]

11. The worst offenders probably weren't even in the room.

I doubt their aides even brought it up when they returned.

[freshwest]

2. This needs to go viral. Stop the hatred of the poor. It's immoral, these guys are the real grifters.

[gopiscrap]

3. Good for her!

[sheshe2]

4. Kick!

They are shameless.

Thank you to Jackie Speier for standing up in support for the people.

[drynberg]

5. WELL DONE JACKIE, TOO BAD THESE PLUTOCRATIC CORRUPT SCUMBAGS HAVE NO SHAME, HOWEVER

If this gets circulated on the web in a viral fashion where tens of millions see it, maybe then at least these scumbags can get their asses handed to them come Nov. of next year! I gotta go post this on facebook.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

9. Here's CEO Panera

trying to live on food stamps.

http://money.msn.com/now/post--panera-ceo-gets-hungry-on-food-stamps

##snip##

"Shaich, who earned $4.4 million in compensation last year, says the feelings of anxiety and hunger led to another sensation: "an underlying sense of resentment."

##snip##

[deurbano]

8. She's my congresswoman!

[barbtries]

10. 1 caveat:

she should have named names. otherwise, that was really good. unfortunately of course republicans are sociopathic and incapable of experiencing shame.

[Tx4obama]

12. The names below

-snip-

BuzzFeed identified several of the congressmen referenced in Speier’s speech:

The member of Congress who took the trip to Argentina who spent $127 was Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma and the trip was sponsored by the Franklin Center. The member of Congress who took the trip to Russia was Rep. Steve King of Iowa. The 20 members of Congress who went to Dublin can be found here. The trip, sponsored by the Franklin Center, had an estimated budget of $450,000 to $750,000 according to Roll Call.

-snip-

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/dem-congresswoman-holds-up-vodka-steak-and-caviar-to-blast-gop-on-food-stamps/

p.s. I'm guessing that calling them out by name on The House floor is probably against House rules

[wildbilln864]

13. k & r! n/t

[jjewell]

14. It is good to see a Representative represent...

To answer her question though... Yes. They would survive. And then they'd come back and continue their pogrom on the poor.

The problem with people who lack empathy is the fact that they lack empathy...

[hue]

15. Beautifully stated, but Re/Teapukes have deaf ears & really don't give a damn :-(