Reply #26: Two problems. [View All]

[Igel]

First, I'm pretty sure there's only one actual cut to actual food stamp payments in the offing. The one in August was proposed legislation; the one signed in the last week is real legislation. The same legislation.

The second goes to a point I tried to make about "tax increases" as a political speech act or act of legislation and "tax increases" as a description involving actual dollars in the present. Strictly speaking, there have been no cuts to food stamps. There won't be any, at least as a result of this legislation, in 2011. Or in 2012. They take effect in fall 2013. In other words, all the pain and suffering that this is causing will only begin in 11/13. That's quite close to 3 years hence. On the other hand, the speech act has occurred, so there has been a (future) cut to food stamps. Of course, the future cut will only affect future disbursements to deal with people's future needs. The future does not exist.

It's a distinction big enough for Obama to drive his "no tax increases on those making under" $250k through: In spite of what amounts to already-legislated future tax increases as a consequences of already-signed legislation, there have been no actual tax increases, on average (another kludge), to the middle class.

As a corollary, I think it's appropriate to point out the hubbub over the tax increase (which is what the expiration of the tax cuts--a tax increase without an act of political will causing them). It's worth pointing out the mandated cuts to Medicaid providers mandated in 2001, which still haven't actually occurred. I can only wonder if in the event, as opposed to the 3-year-off planning, the food stamp cuts will face the same fate--in other words, will be abolished.