Republicans should put partisanship aside, focus on human necessity
Photo/Mark Nash
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U.S. politicians should put partisanship aside and further consider the hunger issues plaguing America.
Last week, Congressional Republicans approved a nearly $40 billion cut from the federal food stamp program. These Republicans say cutting funding from this program will alleviate the country’s debt issue.
Despite these claims, it is irresponsible to consider making cuts to a program that is essential to the most rudimentary and primary aspect of life: the ability to eat.
The country is not adequately dealing with this issue, according to a report about food stamps and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, conducted this year by the Institute of Medicine.
The food stamp program is already restricted in terms of who is eligible and the types of food available. It would not be reasonable to further limit the program.
In fact, the program is a necessity, particularly in the lives of Central New Yorkers.
In Onondaga County, among the working poor, dependency on food stamps has increased by 50 percent since the onset of the recession in 2008, according to county data.
Because of this, leadership is needed to prevent the onset of potentially detrimental cuts to a necessary program. Two elected officials have taken this step.
Both Central New York members in the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrat Daniel Maffei and Republican Richard Hanna, did not support cuts to the food stamp program.
Although the majority of Republicans supported the cut, Hanna stood with the 15 Republicans who opposed it.
It is notable that Hanna is putting his party’s beliefs behind what is right for his constituents. Other Republicans should follow suit and put partisanship aside. They should not cut the federal food stamp program in what they think is an easy effort to diminish national debt.
In the end, it is highly unlikely that the bill will pass through the Democrat-controlled Senate. And if it ever reached him, President Barack Obama has said he would veto the bill.
The basic necessity of food and nourishment trumps the country’s financial problems. House Republicans cannot place the issue of national debt onto the backs of the nation’s impoverished.