New Hampshire State Senator Kevin Avard has introduced legislation that would ‘tighten up’ the State’s Food Stamp Program.
“The intent of this legislation is to strengthen New Hampshire’s food stamp program so that it can remain solvent for those who truly need the benefits for years to come. By requiring an asset test, we are protecting those most in need be ensuring precious resources are not being diverted to those who do not need assistance.”
SB 7,
I. Provides that the department of health and human services shall not seek, accept, or renew a waiver of the federal work requirements for food stamp eligibility.
II. Requires the department to use the federal resource limits for food stamp eligibility.
III. Requires the department to use federal income limits for food stamp eligibility rather than categorical eligibility standard.
IV. Requires individuals to cooperate with the division of child support services as a condition of eligibility for food stamps.
Maine introduced a work requirement for food stamps. Their program specifically targeted able-bodied adults without dependents.
In the first three months after Maine’s work policy went into effect, its caseload of able-bodied adults without dependents plummeted by 80 percent, falling from 13,332 recipients in Dec. 2014 to 2,678 in March 2015.
A growing number of states are considering work requirements, part-time work, or at a minimum mandatory job training, as a way to encourage able-bodied adults to progress away from taxpayer-funded handouts and prop-ups like food stamps.
Democrats will jump all over this, but Republicans should be quick to defend it. Progressive power relies almost entirely on welfare slaves. The more dependent someone is on government, the easier it is for the political class to leverage that dependence as a way to socially engineer society. They want to use government to change you.
A genuinely progressive approach is to work toward self-reliance. Skills and work are their own reward, and that independence can free up taxpayer resources for other priorities not the least of which is leaving more of that in the pockets of those who earned it for them to put back into the economy as they see fit.
One more quick point. A family in New Hampshire can’t get food stamps unless everyone 16 or older in that home has some form of ID. This means that every person the Democrats claim could be “harmed” by this legislation already has proper identification to vote, long before they may even be eligible to vote.
Challenge Democrat motivations. Mug their narratives. People deserve better than the Left’s welfare plantation. Most of them want better. Some of them need a little encouragement.
Sen. Avard’s Complete Press Release.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Avard introduces common sense bill adding work requirements to food stamp eligibility in NH
Concord, NH – Senator Kevin Avard (R-Nashua) issued the following statement after introducing his bill, SB 7, which would tighten up New Hampshire’s food stamp program to require an asset test so food stamps are not being diverted from those truly in need. It also requires child support payments be made before collecting food stamps and that those who can work do so to be qualified for benefits.
“The intent of this legislation is to strengthen New Hampshire’s food stamp program so that it can remain solvent for those who truly need the benefits for years to come. By requiring an asset test, we are protecting those most in need be ensuring precious resources are not being diverted to those who do not need assistance.”
“Work requirements for those who are able to do so are proven to help improve the lives of citizens, restoring dignity for those who are able to better support themselves through work or volunteering. This requirement will help transition families out of assistance to help move them towards the shared goal of self-sufficiency.”
“We know that families in New Hampshire are owed more than $240 million in child support payments. This legislation would also ask that families cooperate in retrieving child support payments as a condition of receiving food stamps which will help reduce the rate of childhood poverty in our state.”
“This common sense legislation is aimed at improving the food stamp program and improving the quality of life for those in need. I ask the committee support this measure.”
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February 21, 2017
CONTACT
Bobby Collins
(603) 271-3479
The New Hampshire Senate
Republican Majority Office
