Your recent editorial suggested there were two sides to this issue – as if there’s a case for depriving people of food (“Proposal to throw millions off food stamps needs more data from both sides,” Aug 4). Beyond the fact that many of Ohio’s most common jobs pay at or near poverty wages and leave a family of three needing food assistance to get by, we all need to eat. No study shows that threatening to make people go hungry helps them work their way out of poverty. Research shows that when people have help getting things like food, transportation, child care and health care, that helps them hold down a job.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest federal nutrition program and the first defense against hunger in America. It helps more than 1.3 million Ohioans put food on the table. The proposed Trump administration rule change would disproportionately harm low-income working families, older Ohioans, people with disabilities and children.
SNAP boosts local economies because it goes directly into local grocery stores. In 2016, 9,644 Ohio retailers redeemed more than $2.4 billion in SNAP benefits. Turns out making sure every Ohioan gets enough to eat isn’t just good morals, it’s good economics, too. What’s the downside to that?
Will Petrik,
Columbus
Will Petrik is budget researcher for Policy Matters Ohio.
https://www.cleveland.com/letters/2019/08/ohioans-will-lose-access-to-healthy-food-if-the-trump-administration-has-its-way-letter-to-the-editor.htmlBagikan Berita Ini
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