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Faso Sparks Controversy By Linking Food Stamps To Crime

In this April 23 letter to the Wall Street Journal, and during recent political speeches, U.S. Rep. John Faso said he is pushing for stricter work requirements on SNAP recipients, suggesting that the food stamp program is an easy target for drug dealers and fraud.

John Faso

John Faso

Photo Credit: File

County Sheriffs in the 19th Congressional District that Faso represents “tell me every drug dealer they arrest has a SNAP card in his pocket,” Faso said during a recent Ulster County Republican brunch in Kingston. Drug dealers don't declare any income, the congressman said, sparking laughter.

In his letter to the editor, Faso wrote: "I plan to offer an amendment to the legislation to restrict the purchase of soda. Given the increase in obesity and diabetes, particularly among our youth, such a change is consistent with our desire to promote public health and reduce health-care costs."

The legislation under consideration in the House is intended to promote opportunity and self-sufficiency by moving the 3.5 million SNAP recipients who are able-bodied, aged 18-59, with no children at home, into jobs or job training, Faso said.

Many employers have job openings but cannot find people who are ready to work or have sufficient skills, Faso said. 

This bill addresses this workforce shortage by tapping a large pool of people, now dependent on government aid, and gets them into jobs. 

The bill also allows up to $2,000 in savings and $12,000 in car value before counting those assets in SNAP eligibility determinations.

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