Food Stamps Slashed to Pay for Teacher Jobs Bill

AP / CBS

Updated at 1:50 p.m. ET

Democrats are poised to pass a bill today that will provide $26 billion in additional funding to help states cover Medicaid expenses and teacher salaries. To pay for the bill, however, they are accelerating the scale-back of food stamp payments -- at a time when a record number of Americans are relying on food stamps.

In an unusual move, the House of Representatives interrupted its August recess this week to return to Washington to pass this aid bill. The legislation, which passed in the Senate last week, extends programs enacted in the stimulus package, with $16 billion for state health care programs and $10 billion to help school boards avoid teacher layoffs.

Democrats convinced two Republicans in the Senate to support the measure in part by ensuring it would not add to the deficit. That was in part accomplished by cutting food stamp payments beginning in 2014 by $12 billion. The cut would bring funding for the food stamp program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, back to pre-stimulus levels ahead of schedule.

Liberal Democrats say they are committed to restoring the funding, the Hill reports.

"This is a bitter pill to swallow," Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) reportedly said in a statement, noting a spike in participation in the last year. She added, however, that states "desperately need" the $26 billion aid package to save jobs and avoid cuts to essential services.

"As you can imagine, for me personally, it's like 'Sophie's Choice,' " she added.

DeLauro said she would "absolutely" fight to restore the funds, according to the Hill. A spokesperson for Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.) also reportedly said the congressman is "considering legislation to restore the cuts while finding another offset."

The federal government reported last week that the number of Americans receiving food stamps rose to a record 40.8 million in May. Participation in the food stamp program has set records for 18 straight months.

Dozens of state and local charities, like the Texas Food Book Network and the Houston Food Bank, have asked Congress to vote against today's bill, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Democrats contend the $26 billion aid package could save the jobs of more than 300,000 teachers, police officers and other public servants. Republicans, however, say the measure only prolongs state funding imbalances and does nothing to avert future layoffs.

"Everyone knows that state budgets have been hit hard and no one wants teachers to lose their jobs. But where do the bailouts end?" House Republican Leader John Boehner said in a statement. "The American people are fed up with the Democrats' 'stimulus' spending and they certainly don't want another job-killing tax hike on U.S. job-creators."

Update: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell added in a statement that the stimulus was supposed to be "targeted and temporary."

"It's time to change course, it's time to do something that will actually create lasting private sector jobs and get us moving in the right direction," he said.

[peoplewithmoney]

They need to look more into military. I hate to say this but they are not for the families that support the spouses. Most of military are divorcing b/c of the chain of command. What I am trying to get at is instead of cutting off the needs of people that need it then they need to get the Soldier Act stopped on child support while in Iraq so the women with children dont need to depend on welfare. More then 80% of soldiers are going over there and not giving the family the money and we have to depend on so the only option is welfare and its not fair that the government takes care of them and not the families as well. They need to look at alot more then just them going over to Iraq and etc. They are not seeing what they are putting the wives and children through. I know more families on welfare in the military then I ever thought would be b/c of soldiers that they protect that is not fair.

[artoldman]

Teacher food stamps going to pay there pay check/.poor going with out food .that is a shame in this time. There is a lots tax money out ther just go get it.there is lot of g......people to lazy to accept there job.....go out to do something about it...

[Zephyr88]

"Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell added in a statement that the stimulus was supposed to be "targeted and temporary."

So were the Bush tax cuts, McConnell, targeted for the top 1% and (temporary) meant to sunset this year....but you won't stop whining about that!

[ritewingman]

So THIS is where they buried the story! Imagine Bush cutting food stamps to pay for a special interest which supported him - ya think the press would have anything to say about that? But Obammy does it and...big yawn from the servile media.

[Iheartboobies]

Sooner or later, you run out of other people's money. In this case, the teacher unions are getting the food stamp money. Another teachable moment...

It's a good thing that Michelle got to take 8 vacations this summer because she's going to busy campaigning for her husband, the king.

[Dustin83v]

Barack Obama needs money immediately to budget food stamps for children. He should consider drastic cuts in military spending. The DOD only needs Air Force, Navy, Marines, NG, and Coast Guard (DHS). The Office of Management and Budget must suggest serious reduction of the Army. The cost is unjustified and criminal in nature. The United States does not need to occupy a foreign land.

[RobAla]

The jobs may be important, but it is the manner in which these people were funded that ticks me off. We have hundreds of billions of dollars left in unspent stimulus money, and this should have been used to fund this. What are they saving this stimulus money to do? Instead, we have some companies being taxed more to pay for this, and the poor have less in food stamps (at a time of extended high unemployment). I would like to know if all of the $26 billion is being paid for, or if some of it will add to the horrible deficit. What are they saving this stimulus money to do?

The second question I have is this: Were the teacher jobs needed in these school districts? Many people are given up on the public school system, and have elected to home school or send their child to a private school. The public schools are shrinking in many places. As for the police, you can never have too many of them.

[texasborndemo]

Starve on $400mo. food stamps?That's the most stupidest thing I've heard from in my life.What you buying,T-bones,lobsters,caviar?Get a freaking life bozo,I raised 4 kids on alot less than that and made it just fine,of course you're a repug who can't control your food budget,so I'm probably way over your head on trying to explain to you how to do it.

[jen7hatton]

400 a month for three people is only enough to get cheap garbage. Soda, chips, anything with chemicals that cause cancer and obesity. To feed our children healthy fruits and vegetables it takes double that! You must have raised your kids on that amount in the 70's. Either that or your kids are fat and have health problems!

[HemiHead66]

If there's one thing that needs to be cut it's the Gestapo. You've got thousands of these Nazi monsters running around in their padded get-ups beating the hell outta people. This country is turning into Nazi Britain. There isn't one place in that dump that's not watched by cameras. You've got hundreds of people sitting in little rooms watching everything the public does. And that isn't the half of it. There are some sick Neo-Nazi freaks running that dump. And we're headed for the exact same thing.

[x_shannon]

Until people are starved, beaten, experimented on, rounded up in cattle cars and gas-vans, and little yellow stars start popping up on people's clothing, I think you need to get your s*&t straight and go learn some history. Food stamp bills and budget cuts equate to Nazi Germany for you? I have afeeling someone didn't slap you enough as a child.

[macgerson]

Shame on You Barack Obama!

[signseeker1717]

You do realize this is a BILL in the HOUSE OF REPRESENSATIVES.

Try saying "Shame on You CONGRESS".

You might also want to take note of the "bitter pill to swallow", "Sophie's Choice" comments, and the fact these cuts don't start until 2014.