In light of the explosive growth in the number of Americans on food stamps during the Obama administration, the government is now considering allowing potential recipients to apply for benefits over the phone.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the nation’s largest food assistance program — and better known as “food stamps” — has increased from 17 million recipients in 2000 to nearly 47 million in 2014, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Of that 30 million increase, about two-thirds took place since President Obama took office in 2009, according to the USDA.
Currently, states are required to conduct face-to-face interviews to determine eligibility but many states apply for waivers that allow for telephone interviews.
On “Fox & Friends Weekend,” political analyst and investigative journalist Nomiki Konst, founder of The Accountability Project, squared off against Fox News contributor Deneen Borelli to debate the pros and cons of the phone process.
Konst argued that the phone interview would eliminate government waste and cut costs, noting that fraud has been reduced to less than 1 percent in studies.Borelli, president of the Conservative Review website and outreach director for FreedomWorks, called the plan a “vote-buying scheme.”
“We have no idea who is going to be on the other end of that phone,” Borelli said. “It has exploded, especially under President Obama’s watch.”
People responded to the news with frustration on social media:
Efficient theft by phone. How nice… https://t.co/BuALi7bpIr
— J (@AegisFS) May 16, 2015
@WestJournalism Hell come on down the borders are open and you can get your food stamps online or by phone now
— Hock (@Hock_35) May 15, 2015
What's there not to love about our pResident? Food stamps by phone? Get outta here! http://t.co/83KAvwUAGR
— Recall San Antonio (@RecallSA) May 15, 2015
they r enslaved by the free housing, food stamps&cell phone… getting a job is only freedom pic.twitter.com/xUBETBPPes
— Laurinda Cole (@apostlelaurinda) March 15, 2015
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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