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Michigan Cracking Down On Food Stamp Abuse

Michigan Cracking Down On Food Stamp AbuseMichigan is continuing its crackdown on food stamp abuse. Under new guidelines being launched this month, applicants for the program will have their assets scrutinized.

For instance, if an applicant has $5,000 in liquid assets or a car or truck worth more than $15,000, they will probably be ineligible for the program under the new rules , according to USA Today.

Michigan is not the only state to check assets—Arizona, Texas, and Indiana, do as well, among others, Newser writes. Whereas states including Oregon, Oklahoma and New York do not inquire into the applicant’s financial stability, USA Today research showed.

Michigan wants the test to weed out people who are “gaming the system,” said Brian Rooney, director of policy and compliance at the Michigan Department of Human Services in the USA Today article.

The growing concern for people abusing the program most likely is a result of the fact that the program itself is costly.

More than 40 million Americans used the benefit in September, receiving an average benefit of $134 per person (making it a total of $5,360,000,000  for September) or $290 per household (total of $11,600,000,000), according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

One can understand why some states have decided that it might be time to regulate the program.

“If you’re driving an Escalade, maybe it’s time to find a car that better fits your current economic situation,” a Department of Human Services official explained in the USA Today article.

Michigan’s policy is a shift away from one that based eligibility strictly on income and runs counter to a trend that many states have adopted in recent years, Jennifer Brooks, director of state and local policy at the Corporation for Enterprise Development, told USA Today.

“Telling them they can’t have assets, you’re undermining the premise of the program,” she explained. “A lot of these benefits go to people that were, a few years ago, solidly within the middle class. It’s probably going to be temporary help.”

Most states have gone to a system that assumes people are eligible for food stamps if they qualify for other services to the poor, such as Medicaid or Temporary Aid to Needy Families, she added in the article.

Some states have eliminated asset tests, Stacy Dean, vice president for food assistance policy at the Center on Budget and Policy priorities, told USA Today.

“There are number of states in this downturn, Nebraska and Louisiana among them, that have lifted them,” she said. “With the growing number of unemployed workers who may put modest savings aside, we don’t want them to have to spend down their assets.”

Some may remember that earlier this year, Michigan was the state that also cracked down on food stamp abuse with college students:

In an effort to cut costs and balance Michigan’s state budget, Human Services Director Maura Corrigan has removed an estimated 30,000 college students from the state’s food stamp program.

. . . .

For the most part, college students are not eligible for food stamps under federal rules. But under former Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s administration, attending college alone qualified people for food assistance.

But at the direction of Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, Corrigan is making it clear that the state can no longer sustain the costs involved in handing out food stamps to college students.

“We want to encourage people to be self-sufficient, not to be dependent on the government,” she said.

Encouraging people to be “self-sufficient” and live within their means could prove to be promising.

Comments (135)

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  • grudgywoof
    Posted on October 25, 2011 at 5:58am

    I saw on CNN yesterday that we are still giving foriegn aid to CHINA. What the @#$% really? Oh the government ass said it‘s just 10 million dollars or so it’s for better relations. Hey occupy wall street why don‘t you occupy Washington because that’s were the corruption really is. China is laughing at us…well untiil we screw them with the Schumer bill then they may nuke us.

    Report Post » grudgywoof  
  • jedi.kep
    Posted on October 25, 2011 at 5:54am

    I’m shocked that a blue state like Michigan, would be checking assets! Democrats actually doing their job? Fiscal responsibility? I’ll be in my bunker cause the world must be ending soon…

    Report Post » jedi.kep  
    • hope36
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 6:14am

      Michigan voted all republicans this last election.

      Report Post »  
    • MichiganPatriot
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 7:37am

      Sorry Michigan is a red state, Michigan voted Governor Rick Snyder in last election with more than 58% of the vote and he has done a lot to fix the problems caused by the Democratic Socialist Grandholm. Grandholm was one of the nominee‘s to become Obama’s Financial Czar but he decided on someone else. Michigan is one of those states that is divided, There are a lot of Progressive people in this state. There are also a lot of us who believe that the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are the foundation of our principles and that we are a Free Republic. Democracy is a joke, I laugh at Obama every time he speaks of “our Democracy”. This guy doesn’t even know how many states there are in our nation. He even said once that we bought the Statue of Liberty from France. Some of the these liberal zombies say he is the most intelligent President ever. My god I do not see it. Get him away from his teleprompter and he is always at a loss for words. Don’t count Michigan out yet we are strand and have a huge history for constitutional conformity. I think after all the smoke clears Michigan will be closer to Texas like state. I’m 42 years old and have lived here for 40 of those years. The people here hate democracy. The ones that do not are the privileged and that is because they have never had to work or provide.

      Snyder is not perfect but at least he has done some good.

      Report Post » MichiganPatriot  
    • BernieKittyCat
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 7:49am

      I think Michigan isn’t quite red yet. Redish purple, maybe, but definitely not blue. Pray for us.

      Report Post » BernieKittyCat  
    • Citizen
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 8:22am

      I am smack dab in the middle of the detroit ‘hood’ 2 bodies dumped yesterday in a field not a mile away. I see 2 big problems in this area that keep it blue. tons of immigrants (all colors and nationalities) who dont really care about america and just game the system and union members who dont want to “give anything up” and always vote for some idiot who gives them things because they dont want to lose thier overpaid jobs. somehow they think putting on a car seat is worth $25+ when i could train a ten year old to do thier job.

      the stories i could tell about bridge cards could fill the web, one fool with common sense can just see massive abuse walking into any store around here. heck mcdonalds takes bridge cards here and so does little ceasers pizza lol now that i think about it i gotta sign up for one that would be like a free 200 dollars worth of big macs a month. life is good in the hood i guess.

      Report Post »  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 9:00am

      Michigan isn’t a red state,we had eight years of the progressive Granholm who single handedly destroyed the economy.We had a boom cycle when Engler was governor then the progressive Granholm did what progressives do,tax and spend and regulate businesses out of business.

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • tron824
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 9:50am

      I’m so glad my state is finally doing something about this crap. It only takes pictures of people in soup kitchen lines taking pictures with their blackberry, a lottery winner refusing to give up his bridge card and being proud about working the system, and all of the people who roll up to grocery stores in their pimped out cadillacs with rims using food stamps.

      A while ago on the radio, people called in reporting all the ways to work the system like spending $100 of food stamps and get $80 in cash back to buy smokes and booze, trading bridge cards and food stamps from each other, or getting multiple cards/stamps for one family where even the kids have a their own card. To them its a “right of passage” that being on welfare is a way of life, not a temporary helper.

      I wish they would complete the limited to 4 years on the program not on just a few areas along with having the leechers take a drug test. We all have to take drug test for work where we receive money, they should too.

      Report Post »  
  • Apple Bite
    Posted on October 25, 2011 at 2:33am

    IT‘S ABOUT FREAKIN’ TIME!!!

    I wish I could say (write) that “louder than that. These are the same people running to the polls for Obama and every other Liberal that would allow them to do as they please. Meanwhile, folk like myself are going to and from work, hoping we have enough money in our pockets to put some gas in our vehicles to return back the next day, thanks to Obama’s energy policies….

    I’m off topic, but seriously think back 3-4 years ago, gas was $1.97, in that alone Obama should be out on his rear come time to vote.

    Report Post » Apple Bite  
    • ohnomrbill
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 2:59am

      what are you talking about gas was 5 bucks a gallon when obama came into Office

      Report Post »  
    • Master Sergeant Malone
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 5:04am

      Amen Apple. I’m sick and tired, no make that fed up watching these folk’ present food stamps/cards to the grocery cashier, THEN reach in their purses/wallets, pull out three 20′s and order a damn carton of cigs.That/those same cashiers just roll their eyes and shake their heads when this happens all too often. There should be a system where these low life scofflaws should be monitored and dropped like a hot rock the first time there witnessed screwing the system. This is nuthin’ but liberal BS that has to stop……..yesterday if we are EVER going to take this country back on the road to success leaving PC in the toliet!

      Report Post »  
    • MHP
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 6:25am

      ohnomrbill

      Where was YOU paying 5 bucks a gallon. When Bush left office, it was $1.60/gallon here, now it’s almost 4 bucks a gallon.

      Report Post » MHP  
  • neiman1
    Posted on October 25, 2011 at 1:39am

    If I quit my job working for the company I won and record NO income for the next 90 days I would legally qualify for food stamps and Medical from the government regardless of owning my own business, home, and toys. That is America as we have built it. Not fair and stupid.

    Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 7:02am

      In 1994, in Missouri, I was a single parent of a handicapped child, working for below minimum wage (factory job that paid piece rate). I had a tiny rented house that was really 1 bedroom (I turned the dining room into a room for my son, but had to put 2 hanging doors that closed in the middle (the size of a very large sliding door)…it had 4 rooms and the bathroom was in the basement (kitchen, living room, dining room and bedroom) The bathroom, in the basement had a claw foot tub sunk into the concrete of the floor, and the shower was outside the room near the laundry area. I applied for food stamps, and didn’t qualify because I had a Chevy Cheyenne work truck that I was still paying on, and a job. I was actually told if I quit my job and sold my truck, I’d qualify. When I applied for SSI for my handicapped son, they had me count out the money in my purse and tell them what my son had in his piggy bank at home. I actually think they were disappointed when I qualified for THAT! I had to list any property that I had SOLD in the last year, or gave away, or if I had a pre-paid cemetary plot.

      Why were they so strict then, and now anyone can get it? I know a lady who has 4 kids, is on “disability” and yet works VBS for a week every year, and all her kids and herself, have Blackberries (and that includes a 12 year old).

      Report Post »  
    • cherigc
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 7:58am

      These officials need to speak with regular cashiers at Wal Mart etc….BOY do they have stories to tell ….This is the best way to find out all the scams to gain the system….Its appauling!

      Report Post »  
  • rourke13
    Posted on October 25, 2011 at 1:31am

    I can’t tell you how exciting this is – if it happens! My husband comes home from the store with a new “you can’t believe who used the EBT card this time!” story…The college students were bad so that at least is done. You know not to go to the store at certain days of the month or you deal with the 2 cart shoppers..it’s a science to how they know what qualifies for EBT and what is cash. They always pull a wad out of cash to pay for the alcohol & etc.

    Report Post »  
  • MastrSSG
    Posted on October 25, 2011 at 1:08am

    Poverty in America is a joke! I live well under “poverty standards” My income is based on my Army retirement. I live in a 3900 sq foot house on 5 acres. I have 3 TV’s, 2 computers, own a car have several pets and I’m about 15 lbs over weight from eating very well. I have a phone, internet, My kids have several game consoles with a ton of games, new clothes, several pairs of shoes and warm beds to sleep in every night. My son has 2 Guitars, my daughter has a flute and we have a Piano in our living room. We eat at least one meal together everyday at our dinner table and have never gone to bed hungry.
    I’m not alone either most people I know who are “broke” live with even more of life’s comforts. I choose not to have cable T.V, we don’t eat out much and rarely eat fast food. We cook from scratch and even make our own bread.
    The vast majority of Americas poor live better than we do and the number of homeless while tragic is extremely small. Most homeless are homeless by choice not because they don’t have options.
    Compare that to actual poverty like those in China, Africa, India, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Russia.
    The Difference here is that if you try to do something about your own poverty or someone else’s in America you run into much more trouble. We keep dividing ourselves through Government regulation and forcing us to rely on government to the extent we cant even give our neighbor free food from our own garden without the FDA or some other gov offi

    Report Post » MastrSSG  
  • Marci
    Posted on October 25, 2011 at 1:08am

    “Telling them they can’t have assets, you’re undermining the premise of the program,” she explained. “A lot of these benefits go to people that were, a few years ago, solidly within the middle class. It’s probably going to be temporary help.”

    ++++++++++++++++++++++
    How hard is it for you to track the SOLID lifestyle repeaters??

    Report Post » Marci  
  • DAGNY
    Posted on October 25, 2011 at 12:44am

    Only now they are considering assets? WTF has been going on for the last 40 years? Are you kidding me? This state deserves to sink into the Great Lakes.

    Report Post »  
  • Salamander
    Posted on October 25, 2011 at 12:32am

    How about this? If you take from the government, you just gave up your vote! Once you are no longer taking from the government, you get to vote again! And, the 47% that pay no taxes shouldn’t get to vote! And, any business that pays no tax should be prohibited by law from having any lobby participation! We need some self-correcting measures in our government!

    Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 12:41am

      Right now… if you paid no taxes… but got a Refund… you probably get a chance to vote more than once!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • pamela kay
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 1:10am

      This makes perfect sense. Bravo! You have made a great point.

      Report Post » pamela kay  
    • Boss Hogg
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 4:44am

      No Representation without Taxsation. If you don’t pay federal taxes you should not be allowed to vote in federal elections.

      Report Post »  
    • M 4 Colt
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 5:04am

      Salamander, you want people to give up their vote if they need food stamps, well smart ass i have got news for you, i have worked all my life and have never asked for help, EVER and i am almost 60 years old but with our economy the way its been under Obama for the past 3 years i have not been able to make enough money to feed my family and keep a roof over our heads too, so i just had to ask for help from the state for the first time in my life two months ago and once the economy picks back up i will no longer need the help but for you to say that someone should give up their vote just because they need a little help like i do is just plain DUMB and VERY UNAMERICAN!

      Oh ya by the way i am a registered Republican and have been for the past 40 years so don‘t think for one minute that i am a liberal Democrat who loves government hand outs and doesn’t want to work so just remember you never know what can happen to you in life and maybe you too might need a helping hand some day so stop being so harsh and open your heart to others who really do need some help,people like me who are not trying to gaming the system at all.

      Report Post »  
    • M 4 Colt
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 5:46am

      Salamander, i have read all of your other post here, boy o boy i hope you never have anything bad happen to you in your life because to hear you tell it you would never allow the government to help anybody for any reason, so with a system like that i hope that your friends or family would step in to help you if you ever needed a helping hand. I have worked my whole life and have always lived within my means. I don’t own any cell phones, i own two cars the newest one is 15 years old,we have lived in the same house for the past 23 years and only have one mortgage, we have zero credit card debt, my wife and i never eat out or eat fast food, the only luxury item we have is cable TV. I work for my self and have done so for the past 7 years due to a serious accident i was in were i could have went on government S.S. disability but due to the fact that i like to work i did not take the disability, i started my own small machine shop and was able to support my wife and i, nothing fancy but we were making it on our own but ever since Obama took over three years ago my business started to slow down and has been very SLOW for the past 6 months. Due to that slow down it has come to the point to were my wife and i had to made a choice we could make the house payment or we could buy food but not both so as you can see you can be a good person work hard all your life but just like my wife and i you too may find yourself in need of help so as you can see not everyone is gaming the system.

      Report Post »  
  • bruce_baker
    Posted on October 25, 2011 at 12:21am

    It’s a government program, isn’t it? Is there going to be abuse? Duh, yes!

    The answer is to educate people to the fact that they need to take care of themselves and work. It would be nice to make taxes reasonable and stop government regulatory interference so that business becomes profitable again, and lots of jobs get created.

    This crap is unsustainable. We must start back on the path of constitutional government, and away from this Robin Hood socialism. If the poor continue taking support from the government, it’s only a matter of time before that government starts telling us who may and may not have children. Tell me, is THAT really the kind of country you want to live in?

    Report Post » bruce_baker  
    • objectivetruth
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 11:08am

      In a way they are already telling us who can and can’t have kids.Give one up for adoption know matter the reason it can and will be used against you.They can take any and all sucessive children from you based on this one allegedly loving act.The foster parents will be paid to keep them recieve the tax breaks then they will be adopted with all the subsidies state employer and federal can muster.Your tax dollars at work again.Yes all of these [except the employer provided]come right out of social security monies.
      If americans looked through the glass at themselves, the way we do other countrys ,we’d see it for what it is.Legallized baby kidnapping being subsidized by the state.In the shades of Ceauşescu .
      Ban adoption ban it today ban it for the good of all.

      Report Post »  
  • Salamander
    Posted on October 25, 2011 at 12:18am

    I thought Food Stamps was a national program! Either, they have an assets threshold, or they don’t! I qualify under the income guidelines, but not under the assets guidelines! My assets are getting depleted to make up for my lack of income! That means I am taking a welfare drawdown from myself, from my future security! I’m self-financed, but it cannot be that way forever! If I don’t qualify for Food Stamps, then NOBODY else in my situation should, either! Let’s get rid of these crap programs, or at least enforce them as they stand! It is NOT the government’s responsibility to house us, clothe us or feed us! We have LOST our responsibility for one another because we rely on our government to do it for us! Thus, we have lost control over it and there are insufficient checks and balances to administer the programs in a way that is efficient, affordable and discourages cheating! Frankly, the ONLY way to FIX IT IS TO ELIMINATE IT! People will find food, or they’ll learn to grow it! With minimum wage, one cannot work for food! Rather, one has to work for minimum wage–which totally eliminates all jobs not worth the minimum wage threshold! How can government ‘decide’ what my time and effort is worth? That’s MY responsibility! How stupid!

    Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 8:12am

      Food stamps is a state thing, suplimented by federal funds. I think it should be a temporary thing, like for people like you who need it situationally. But there are people who have high priced cars and their kids don’t have shoes (seen it in the 70‘s and 80’s in my home town) and are 3rd generation welfare recipients. This was back when you actually had STAMPS. You could go to the corner and sell them for 50 cents on the dollar for cash so you could buy cigarettes, or whatever. These programs should be there, but should be temporary and should have strict guidelines. I‘m glad I didnt’ qualify because it taught me to budget my money for the first time in my life. I was military, with paid housing, and didn’t need to worry about money.

      Report Post »  
  • AxelPhantom
    Posted on October 25, 2011 at 12:12am

    In Florida a judge just blocked a new law requiring drug testing for welfare recipients. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501369_162-20124858.html

    Report Post »  
    • Salamander
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 12:23am

      Good for Florida! It is WRONG to test drugs on welfare recipients! I think they should eliminate all medical ‘benefits’ for welfare recipients! It is wrong for government to ‘practice’ medicine! Bring a guy in who isn’t paying his own bills, and just watch the battery of tests that get administered–for the rest of us to pay for!

      Report Post »  
    • DearMagnolia
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 1:06am

      Salamander, are you being sarcastic? Not testing drugs ON welfare recipients but testing them for drug use, silly.

      Report Post »  
    • BetsyRoss1513
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 10:47am

      They can test welfare recipeints for drugs (which, btw, can be faked!), as soon as they start testing our elected officials for drugs, too.

      Report Post » BetsyRoss1513  
  • Rstryker27
    Posted on October 25, 2011 at 12:01am

    They should weigh your ass too and adjust your food stamp allocation accordingly.

    Report Post »  
    • coindexter
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 12:17am

      it’s TIME to regulate that program???…this is why we are screwed America. the time to regulate this program has long passed. tax the poor!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Salamander
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 12:25am

      I agree! Establish a BMI threshold, above which, the government puts you on a diet!

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 7:08am

      Actually they put that in the original health care bill. It was called “Take Back Your Health Act of 2009” I think S1640. If you were on medicare, and had a chronic disease (described as breast cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid disorder, metabolic disorder – don’t know what that one is) you had to show a 10% improvement in 2 categories (which included quitting smoking, losing inches off your waist, lowering your PSA (prostate numbers) or lowering the cancer cells in order for your doctor to be paid for 72 1-hour sessions to change your lifestyle. I don’t know if it made the cut in the final bill that passed. I know it shows that it was read on the floor twice and nothing else.

      Report Post »  
    • Wornout
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 7:17am

      Really? I’m overweight, I don’t eat anymore food than anyone else. Over the top hyperbole makes you look mean, and uneducated.

      Report Post »  
    • BetsyRoss1513
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 10:53am

      ::They should weigh your ass too and adjust your food stamp allocation accordingly.”"

      Really? Cuz everyone knows that the MORE money you have, the better quality you can eat and therefore lose weight. NOT ENOUGH money = foods high in starch, sodium and fat.
      I can feed 4 people on $4 with boxed macaroni and cheese and hotdogs, but let me try to feed those same 4 people with 4oz each of decent beef, fresh veggies, and whole grains… NOT GONNA HAPPEN!!

      Report Post » BetsyRoss1513  
  • anotherGlen
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 11:54pm

    Good for Michigan, As far as drug testing, it should be done. The judge that overruled the Florida law is just another liberal thug using the bench to overturn the will of the people. The Libs always say it’s a burden on the people. What? How about taxes, aren’t they a burden? Welfare is a privilege, not a right, just like driving is a privilege. Why not get rid of all those tags and licenses and waiting in line at the DMV and tag office. That’s a burden. It’s my right to drive. And why not get rid of DWI’s, it’s my right to drink and drive. Just going along with the liberal mindset. How come it’s a burden only if it impacts some lazy, poor person?

    Report Post » anotherGlen  
  • F_This
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 11:37pm

    Heck, I have an employee that lives in section 8 housing, has three children by three different fathers (that don’t pay a dime), reduced electricity bill, food stamps, cable tv, cell phone, nice clothes, and drives a 2009 Chevy Tahoe loaded. It makes me sick to my stomach every day. She lives damn near the same lifestyle as me and I pay a heck of a lot more in taxes, pay for 2 children and all of my bills with no help. And they want more wealth redistribution? What a f-ing joke! They get way more than they ever deserve. These people have no responsibility whatsoever. If it were up to me, they would be riding a bicycle and eating bread and drinking water with all the free vitamins they could swallow.

    Report Post »  
  • F_This
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 11:30pm

    There’s no way in h*ll that if you can buy drugs should I pay for your food, house, electricity, cable, cell phone, medical, transportation, clothes, gold teeth, alcohol, and so on. Get the picture?

    Report Post »  
  • Netsurfer2
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 11:28pm

    I’m very sick of these drug infested Ghetto types! The Mexicans also who come here just to get handouts from the American Government! What do you expect??? Our government has turned their back on us! They have been accustomed to giving our money away to those who really do not deserve anything while we don’t have any say regardless! They call this social justice when we call it an out right crime! I’m not at all for the poor who want nothing more than to take your money and cheat the rest of society! I say if you really want to get out of the Ghetto, then study hard in school, go to college and learn a valuable profession that you can be proud of. Not by taking anything, but by working long hard hours like I did and rise above the rest with determination! No one is going to do it for you, but you! Anyone can do such, just requires your sacrifice in time and hard work!

    Nothing is for free in life and if they tell you it is or try to give it to you, then your cheating your self big time!

    Report Post » Netsurfer2  
  • yooperjo
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 11:26pm

    It’s about time, Michigan!

    Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 12:00am

      It’s hard to turn a Blue State… Red… when the GOP is loaded with “moderates”… and the Unions have Money Power!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • pamela kay
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 2:04am

      This is what happens when there is no money. Michigan is broke. Why couldn’t we stop giving them a check and have a local grocery that is set up with basic supplies for each family . Give them healthy nourishing meals to prepare themselves. As far as assistance for living the check would go directly to the housing developement or property owner. People donate clothing all the time, why not have a place where they can go to pick out what is needed. Most communities are set up for free meals and for x-mas gifts for the children. I also agree that their voting rights would be revoked while on welfare. School lunches should be provided discreetly for the children As far as medical treatment goes, I don’t think it should be denied. Medications should be monitored closely for abuse. I also do not think that they should be eligible for a tax refund. That money could be used to help cover their cost to the county where they live. It would be very difficult to deny anyone food shelter and medical help , but there has to be restrictions and each case needs to be looked into in order to properly decide who is eligible and who is abusing the system. They should if physically able be forced to work to help with costs and recieve minimal pay. The system has to be restructured, there are people that deserve and need help. I don‘t want to be a nation that does not have compassion but I don’t want to be a nation of waste either.

      Report Post » pamela kay  
    • mr.goodvibe
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 6:02am

      Say ya ta da up eh!

      Report Post » mr.goodvibe  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 11:21pm

    In NC if you abuse food stamps,You Dont Eat.It is not enough Money to feed Karen Carpenter.

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
    • Salamander
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 12:24am

      If it’s so damn little, then if they eliminate it entirely, you won’t miss it a bit!

      Report Post »  
  • angelcat
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 11:19pm

    Besides the Escalades, how about the brand new $100 dollar tennies, i phones, and other luxuries. That money could be used for food instead and a basic phone and $30 tennies could be purchased instead. Many of those on food stamps misuse what income they DO have and rely on the stamps instead of prudent use of their incomes.

    Report Post »  
    • Salamander
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 12:28am

      You should see all the trading and selling of Food Stamps that goes on! Another utterly wasted Federal Program! If they got rid of it entirely, I wonder how many Federal jobs it would eliminate? Let the fat-ass bureaucrats stand in the chow line like the rest of us!

      Report Post »  
  • SoCalStar
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 11:15pm

    We need DRUG TESTING even more than means testing. It is true that people could have just been laid off. Many have home debt, credit card debt, vehicle debt and many other forms of debt which needs to be serviced. Maybe they need to listen to Dave Ramsey on radio on how to manage their debt. His advice is STELLAR.

    Report Post »  
    • The10thAmendment
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 11:23pm

      I think medical marijuana is legal in Michigan, or the quickly becoming Western Nation of Islam. Drug testing would be a non starter. Plus it will make the muslims mad, and they just can’t have that. Especially around Dearborn, Flint, and Ann Arbor.

      Report Post » The10thAmendment  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 9:42am

      Here’s some STELLAR advice,abolish ALL forms of welfare it’s unconstitutional and the constitution is the law of the land,it has been under assault for over a century.Our Marxist president is transforming us into a communist state and shockingly enough a lot of people still can’t see it.

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 11:15pm

    Come on, its from Obama’s stash, it’s all good. Baby Momma just needs some cigs and a 40.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • CatB
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 12:08am

      Michigan also gives them FREE CELL PHONES … and they are advertising the fact all day long on TV!

      Report Post »  
  • godlovinmom
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 11:12pm

    Along with counting assets, how about drug testing…what about the disability people…lets see if they are really disabled…I know a few people that are in better shape than me…collecting disability…I’m all for helping someone…but we’ve become a nation of beggers…I raised my children to work…the way it should be….I say its about time!…one scripture comes to mind…God hates a sluggard….let’s make them all self-sufficient…maybe with some of those jobs the illegals have…the ones no body wants…if you’re not getting foodstamps and a check, you might want that job, after all.

    Report Post » godlovinmom  
  • CatB
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 11:10pm

    They need to crack down .. half the state at least has these “Bridge cards” … many who do not need them .. but get them because “they can”. Not to mention those who sell them. I was shocked when I was there this summer .. we followed behind a person who had used the card in front of us (we didn’t know we were in the line for using the card) and they were VERY well dressed (designer handbag and all) when we got to the parking lot they got into a brand new Cadillac! Enough of this abusing the system and getting everyone dependent on government .. The Jackson Public School System (Jackson, Michigan) is now giving FREE LUNCHES to every student .. no matter HOW RICH because the government offered them that money.

    TEA!

    Report Post »  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 11:23pm

      They should make random home visits too: plasma HD TVs, cable/satellite, X-Box, Wii – All the toys and no essentials. While a daunting task, just the fear that someone might show up at the front door might curb some of this abuse.

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 12:10am

      @GRANDMA …

      They give them FREE CELL PHONES … and they are advertising on TV all day and night that they do! The poor are living better than the “middle class” now.

      Report Post »  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on October 25, 2011 at 7:30am

      Morning, CAT, the fact that you saw it first hand must have been an eye opener. Too bad you weren’t working undercover for Breitbart with your hidden camera.

      Report Post »  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 11:06pm

    HEY Michigan…Give them a Drug test TOO!!!!

    Report Post » banjarmon  
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