Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Trump Attack Mode: Cutting Social Security, Medicare, and Possibly Medicaid

Trump and GOP's Long Held Goal Since 1935
(And now Medicare since 1965)


Trump in attack mode for cutting Social Security, Medicare, and possibly taking away Medicaid (for the most needy). That is GOP 101 (always cut spending for critical programs). 

This report here from NEWSWEEK with this headline:

“Trump Gives New Details on His Social Security Plans”

Trump spoke (Monday March 11) about the details of a possible reform of Social Security if he returns to the White House.

Appearing on CNBC's Squawk Box, Trump was asked by co-host Joe Kernen if he has any thoughts on changes to entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security.

Trump replied:There is a lot you can do in terms of entitlement, in terms of cutting and in terms of also the theft and the bad management of entitlements. I know that they're going to end up weakening Social Security because the country is weak. I believe there is cumulative inflation around the country is nearing 50% percent and the nation's middle class has been routed. The middle class largely built this country, and they've been treated very, very badly with policy.”

President Biden in his 2024 State of the Union address last week vowed to protect Medicare and Social Security, saying:Working people who built this country pay more into Social Security than millionaires and billionaires do. That is not fair.”

He also accused Republicans of wanting to cut Social Security as well as “aiming to give more tax cuts to the wealthy.”

On X (formerly Twitter), the Biden-Harris HQ account shared a video of Trump's comments on Monday and charged that he wants to cut Social Security and Medicate and possibly Medicaid as well. 

(L) The Mouth Piece for the Mouth (R)

Trump’s “War Room” (Steven Cheung – seen above) then right on time, tweeted Trump’s response: “If you losers didn't cut his answer short, you would know President Trump was talking about cutting waste.” (More details on that here from FORBES).

President Biden then retorted on X:Not on my watch.”

Now this update – same subjectbut with a different Trump tune and after only one day from the above statements from Trump based on– this update from BUSINESS INSIDER with this their article headline:

“Trump's campaign goes into damage-control mode after he suggests cutting Medicare and Social Security benefits”

Trump on Monday handed President Joe Biden a gift while calling in to CNBC.

The highlights in this update from Business Insider linked above:

·  Trump suggests Social Security and Medicare might be cut.

·  That sent his campaign immediately into damage control.

·  Trump's comments were a political gift for President Biden.

 When asked how to cut spending and his outlook on handling entitlements like Social Security and Medicare benefits, Trump suggested cuts could be made to the programs, guaranteed financial support to retired and disabled workers.

Trump told CNBC's Joe Kernen in a rambling response to the question that touched on the stock market, oil drilling, and his administration's response to the COVID pandemic:There is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements in terms of cutting and in terms of also the theft and the bad management of entitlements, tremendous bad management of entitlements. There's tremendous amounts of things and numbers of things you can do.”

He then added:I know that they're going to end up weakening Social Security because the country is weak” (suggesting that the Biden administration would make cuts to the program).

Trump's campaign quickly jumped into damage-control mode, sending out a press release saying that the former president's remarks had focused on:Protecting entitlements like Social Security and Medicare and that he would get rid of waste and fraud.”

But Biden seized upon Trump's remarks just as quickly, telling a crowd of voters in NH that Trump had said cuts to the programs were on the table. 

Biden vowed to protect the entitlements more than 70 million Americans rely on, saying:I won't cut Social Security and I won't cut Medicare. I will protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare, and make the wealthy begin to pay their fair share.”

Representatives for Trump didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider update.

The NEWSWEEK story starts from here:

What We Know: In 2023, Trump spoke about Social Security and rejected claims that he would attempt to cut the program. You don't have to touch Social Security he said during a town hall with Fox’s Sean Hannity last December  saying: “We have money laying in the ground far greater than anything we can do by hurting senior citizens with their Social Security.” 

In January, the left-leaning advocacy group Social Security Works, which seeks to expand benefits, issued a warning about Trump's possible reelection saying: “He proposed cutting Social Security and Medicare every year he was president, and he tried to defund Social Security.”

What's Next: A Navigator Research poll said 61% of Republicans were very, or somewhat, concerned about possible plans for tax breaks that would cut Social Security for older Americans.

My 2 Cents: Those two articles above, with the second one updating the first one, stand on very solid factual ground and need our full attention regarding any talk of cutting Social Security and Medicare – since they are connected and serve so many Americans.

According to Trump, he wants it both ways – cut them both and duck when confronted with the truth – which is SOP for him on most issues.

Stay tuned – this is apt to get very ugly but President Biden defend programs and ensure they are properly funded and they have been since 1935 and 1965.

Thanks for stopping by.


Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Trump off his Rocker: Says No Fed Funds for Kids MMR Vaxx - Utter Madness

MMR: In the system since the 1960's

Kids need this protection with few exceptions

One of many Trump promises if reelected, and it happens to be the most insane of all, concerns public health specifically vis-à-vis children’s health as cited from NEWSWEEK with this startling and alarming story headline and with actual quotes from Trump::

“Trump's Health Care Plans Would Destroy Funding for schools in Republican States”

Trump’s plan to cut federal funding to public schools requiring vaccination mandates would also destroy funding for schools in Republican states requiring most students to be immunized from diseases like measles and polio.

Trump said during a rally in Rock Hill, SC in February that he would not support federal funds for any schools requiring vaccine or mask mandates, a policy that would be a departure from even the most conservative of states. 

According to the CDC, all states and territories have some vaccine requirements in place, though mandates may differ in scope and exemptions, as Trump said to a cheering audience: I will not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine mandate or a mask mandate.”

He did not offer specific details about the policy, and he did not say if this would apply to all types of vaccines, including those that have been required by schools for decades, or even the new CoVID-19 vaccination. 

That as some critics have raised concerns about the speed in which it was rolled out after the virus forced widespread shutdowns across the globe beginning in 2020. If he was referring to all types of vaccines, removing those requirements could have serious impact on students, public health experts warned following his remarks.

Dr. Peter Hotez, dean at the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in TX, wrote on X (formerly Twitter):I hope he doesn't really mean it, since it would create a public health catastrophe for the nation. I'm old enough to remember when polio ripped through the globe and put my 6-year-old friends into iron lungs.”

Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich wrote:We dutifully lined up at school to get polio shots [without the howling of anti-vaxxers]. And we eradicated polio in 1979 in the U.S. Why has saving lives become political?”

Former VA GOP Rep. Barbara Comstock, a Trump critic said:Trump said in Richmond, that he will take all federal funds away from public schools that require vaccines. Like most states, Virginia requires MMR vaccine, chickenpox vaccine, polio, etc. So Trump would take millions in federal funds away from all Virginia public schools.”

FYI: VA voted for Democrats in recent elections but backed GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2021, requires 11 vaccines for students to attend schools or other child care facilities, according to the VA Health Department.

Such a radical Trump policy would pull funding from schools in areas run by Republicans since even states with the most conservative governors also require vaccines for schools.

TX for instance, requires students to be vaccinated against at least nine viruses, according to the TX Health Department. It allows exemptions for “a medical reason, or if parents or guardians have reasons of conscience including religious beliefs.”

FL which has recently been struck by a measles outbreak, requires at least seven vaccines but also allows exemptions “based on medical reason and religious belief,” according to the FL Health Department.

FYI: Trump himself was vaccinated against COVID-19 and has touted his “Operation Warp Speed” program that quickly rolled out the COVID-19 vaccine as helping to save lives.

His stance on vaccines has at times left him at odds with his most conservative voters, some of whom have rejected vaccines. He said the vaccine is safe, but opposes requiring individuals to get vaccinated if they opt not to get it.

Most Americans, regardless of their political affiliation, are supportive of childhood vaccines, according to a March 2023 survey from the Pew Research Center. Only 10% of respondents said the risks of those vaccines outweigh the benefits, while 88% said the benefits outweigh the risks.

FYI: Prior to the introduction of measles vaccination in 1963, there were >100 million measles cases resulting in 6 million deaths worldwide, with 4 million cases and 450 deaths in the U.S. annually.

Newsweek has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.

My 2 Cents: Of all the outrageous plans Trump has said he would pursue if reelected in 2024 (his “Project 2025”), this recent announcement from him might be the very worse.

So, I also wonder if his young son Barron’s MMR are all up to date?

Thanks for stopping by.

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Puppet Master for Speaker Johnson: It's Trump Also Over the Entire GOP

Trump's Control Over Speaker Johnson
(His lapdog without any doubt)

GOP Speaker “MAGA Moses Trump Lapdog” Mike Johnson (R-LA) gets a message from NATO ally about his resistance for more aid to Ukraine in their war against Russia in an article from NEWSWEEK with this their headline story:

“NATO Ally Has Strong Warning for Mike Johnson”

Radoslaw Sikorski, the NATO foreign minister for Poland, issued a strong warning against Speaker of the House Mike Johnson regarding the state of aid to Ukraine.

Military forces in Ukraine are struggling with shortages of ammunition and other resources as they continue to contend with Russian invaders after over two years. In light of these struggles, considerable attention has fallen on the U.S. and the state of its continued military aid for Ukraine, which the nation's leaders and

Johnson recently came under fire after sending the House of Representatives on a two-week recess without voting on a measure to provide aid to Ukraine. A $95 billion international aid package previously passed in the Senate by a strong 70-30, but was not brought to the House floor for a vote before the recess. 

That package included $61 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, and $4.83 billion for U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan. 

It would also provide $9.15 billion in humanitarian aid to conflict zones, like Gaza, Israel, and Ukraine; (plus I note it had a strong bi-partisan border package that Republicans have been demanding, too).

Speaking before the Atlantic Council think tank Reuters reported that Sikorski noted how Johnson “…has in the past spoken warmly about Ukraine and urged him to get the aid for Ukraine passed.” He then warned that should the aid not be passed, any Russian successes on the battlefield would be his responsibility, adding:Therefore I'd like him to know that the whole world is watching what he would do and if the supplemental [aid package] were not to pass and Ukraine was to suffer reversals on the battlefield it will be his responsibility.”

NOTE: Newsweek reached out to Johnson's office via email for comment. Any responses received will be added to this story in a later update.

MAGA Moses Mike Johnson's response 
(Updated: My hunch - nice fit)

Following an Oval Office meeting it was reported that Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, House Democratic Leader Jeffries, President Biden, and Vice President Harris all leaned on Johnson to get aid for Ukraine passed, and according to a post on X from CBS reporter Scott McFarlane, “Democratic leaders called the meeting intense.”

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Johnson only said: We'll get the government funded and that the GOP's top priority is still border security.” 

He then departed without taking questions.

Many others on X were quick to point out after the comments that Johnson recently opposed a bipartisan Senate bill with major border reforms, after pressure from Trump, saying: “It is dead on arrival.”

Added: From Putin’s recent “State of the State” speech – key parts from Business Insider with this headline: “Putin may be speaking directly to Americans:”

Hey Vlad that's the wrong finger 
(During his Feb 6 Tucker Carlson interview)


Remarks from Matthew Schmidt, an associate professor of national security and political science at the University of New Haven who previously taught planning at the US Army's School of Advanced Military Studies:Putin is aiming these remarks at Western publics and Western civilian political leadership. He's trying to make sure that Ukraine does not get significant aid from the US. Chalking Putin's most recent nuclear threats up to an attempt to sway American voters against supporting politicians and policies that would result in further US funding for Ukraine. American politicians are already responding to this war in a way that helps Russia. Putin is trying to create the conditions for that to continue happening.”

Since the war began, the Biden administration has directed nearly $75 billion in assistance to Ukraine.

That included military and financial support, according to The Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German research institute. But further funding for Ukraine has been stalled in Congress as House GOP support for U.S. aid wanes. 

Plus, Congress narrowly averted a government shutdown but still made no progress on passing the $95 billion package with emergency funds for Ukraine, Israel, and other foreign allies – all thanks to Speaker Johnson.

My 2 Cents: Boy, do I have a lot to say about Speaker Johnson in his poor performance as Speaker of the house.

Whatever his personal, religious, marriage, sexual, or other views are, I don’t care – they are irrelevant to me, but his policy views that impact the country are very much a serious concern for me.

First, I’m not sure how, but maybe like Kevin McCarthy was booted out, but Johnson needs to go, too, and ASAP.

Second, not giving aid to Ukraine now after two years of resisting Putin and Russia is the same as supporting Putin while abandoning Ukraine.

Third, Johnson then tells the House “take off two weeks and enjoy the break” while dismissing serious problems here at home and abroad.

Finally, just imagine if our allies after Pearl Harbor had abandoned us, or we didn’t help our allies in Europe against Nazi invasions – where would the world be today, um, Mr. Johnson – Seig Heil?

Johnson has zero leadership skills about war and aid for our friends and allies and public policy in general for the country as a whole.

In a word he is pathetic and perhaps the worse Speaker ever in my view.

Thanks for stopping by.


Thursday, February 22, 2024

Speaker Johnson: Worse Speaker in History - He Should Resign or Get Booted

 

Examples of his past votes - now a lot worse

Johnson holds prayer session on House floor
(What about separation of Church & State???)

GOP Speaker “MAGA Moses” Mike Johnson (R-LA) does not believe in separation of church and state – he needs it to be 100% connected and his view of national policy, and the constitution be damned.

Two startling news reports below from ESQUIRE with this headline and full story (formatted for the blog): 

“Mike Johnson's Delusions of Religious Grandeur are Making People Very Nervous”

Speaker Johnson is surely the most obvious theocrat to occupy a space in the presidential line of succession in two centuries. 

No Speaker has ever declared himself to be the modern day Moses while the majority he purports to lead thins almost to invisibility. 

Now, it seems that “MAGA Moses Mike and his delusions of religious grandeur” are making people very nervous.  

The second news source is from The Guardian and it is even worse with this their headline article:

“Speaker Mike Johnson calls separation of church and state a misnomer”

Christian nationalist GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson bemoans “misunderstanding” of one of the U.S. founding principles

Story highlights from the GUARDIAN:

The second-in-line to the presidency informed Americans that our time-honored conception of one of the founding principles of the country was a “misunderstanding.” Speaking to CNBC’s Squawk Box, he tried to turn the conventional wisdom about the founders’ intentions on its head and claimed what they really wanted was to stop government interfering with religion, not the other way around.

Johnson said in an interview with the TV channel from the Capitol:The separation of church and state is a misnomer. People misunderstand it. Of course, it comes from a phrase that was in a letter that Jefferson wrote. It’s not in the constitution.”

Johnson was referring to Thomas Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptist Association of Connecticut, written in 1802 when the third president was in the White House.

It makes clear that the founding fathers subscribed to a powerful separation of church and state, which they enshrined in the establishment clause of the first amendment.

Jefferson in his letter quotes the establishment clause (First Amendment) saying that Congress shall not: “Make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

He went on to say that it builds:A wall of separation between Church & State.”

Johnson’s contentious remarks fall in line with years of effort on his part to bring Christianity into the center of American politics and a separation of Church and State.

The New York Times has dubbed him the first Christian nationalist to hold the powerful position of speaker.

Johnson’s private remarks to a small group of Republican lawmakers at Miami’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel alarmed people, who addressed the speech on condition of anonymity.

Rather than outlining a specific plan to hold and grow the majority, these people said, Johnson effectively delivered a sermon. He showed slides to the members of his Elected Leadership Committee (ELC) team in a bid to tout the party’s prospects of hanging onto its two-seat majority in November.

Johnson, a devout Christian, attempted to rally the group by discussing moral decline in America — focusing on declining church membership and the nation’s shrinking religious identity, according to people in the room.

He contended:That when one doesn’t have God in their life, the government or state will become their guide,” (referring back to Bible verses, two people said).

One of the two people there added that the approach fell flat among some in the room, then adding this part of the story he said:I’m not at church he described Johnson’s presentation as horrible.”

The politically active evangelical splinter Protestantism with whom the GOP made a bargain back in the late 1970's has come finally to collect what has been owed to it since the election of Ronald Reagan. It achieved its long-held goal of overturning Roe v. Wade, and the current Republican frontrunner, *perhaps the most thoroughgoing heathen ever to be elected to the presidency* has promised to sign a nationwide ban on the procedure if one reaches his desk if and when he returns to misrule. 

For example:

Heritage's Project 2025: A Mandate For Leadership a proposed policy plan for Trump’s “Grifter Restoration” is nothing short of a blueprint for a new, muscular patriarchy. The damned thing is almost 900 pages long, and every one of those pages is dripping with unbridled lust for authoritarianism in all aspects of American life, including the Family. 

It turns the entire public health apparatus into an investigative apparatus to chase down anyone associated with having, performed, or enabling an abortion. That, of course, while enfeebling in the CDC’s ability to respond to any future pandemics because ... of freedom.

1. The document goes to war with the FDA over mifepristone.

2. Every element of the public health bureaucracy is turned into a fanatical modern equivalent of Operation Rescue.

3. For example, the proposal tightly restricts IVF and other aids to fertility, as well as stem-cell protocols, on the basis of anti-choice philosophizing.

4. Research using fetal tissue obtained from elective abortions is immoral and obsolete.

5. Research using human embryonic stem cells also involves the destruction of human life and should not be subsidized with taxpayer dollars

6. Good science and life-affirming, ethical research are not mutually exclusive.

7. In fact, ethically derived sources such as discarded surgical tissue and adult stem cells (made pluripotent), not tissue obtained from elective abortions, have contributed the most successful treatments for a variety of ailments.

This is not an idle document (Project 2025) – it is especially designed for Trump.

It is the product of a massive collective effort on the part of almost the entire Powell Memo apparatus behind American conservatism. 

This is the monster behind MAGA Moses Mike Johnson. This is his golden calf.

My 2 Cents: There is no doubt in my mind that Speaker Mike Johnson should step aside, better yet resign from congress and go back home to Louisiana and take up full-time preaching. 

He does not belong in congress which also places him second in line for the presidency, God forbid something were to happen to President Biden and VP Harris.

All of the above and his now almost daily antics proves that he is way out of touch with reality and even a growing number of Republicans see and know that too as more of in key slots are electing to resign, retire, just get out, or now using this tactic against him.

Johnson, in a word, has to go – he has zero leadership skills and the proof is around him now 24/7 along with this related happening in this now so-called “MAGA Moses” Mike Johnson-run GOP.

Thanks for stopping by.


Friday, February 16, 2024

GOP Biden Impeachment: Another "Star Informant" Now Has DOJ Charges

Lead Impeachment Driver Now Over the Cliff
(There is no there, there - oops...)

Comer and his two main evidence hunters
(Thus far: None, nada, nil, zero, zip, goose egg)

Speaker MAGA Mike Johnson with his 4 Clowns

Exceptionally long post with lots of major story links, but one that needs close attention.

GOP Reps. Comer (R-KY) and Jim Jordan (R-OH), and quite a few others squarely in their collective search for impeachment data to nail President Joe Biden no matter what it takes or how long it takes faces - right now batting zero.

For example, the GOP said they had another star informant with first hand evidence that said: “Let’s put Joe Biden behind bars by tying him to his son, Hunter Biden, and all those Ukraine-Burisma dirty money schemes.”

The first article is from NBC News with this main story headline and others below of the same topic.  

“DOJ charges FBI informant with lying to the FBI about Hunter and Joe Biden”

Then this related story from SALON with this headline:

“Completely discredited: Expert says informant’s indictment eviscerates GOP impeachment case”

Those two are followed with this from BUSINESS INSIDER and their story headline:

“A stunning indictment could doom Republican's effort to impeach Biden”

WASHINGTON — An FBI informant has been indicted on two counts of allegedly feeding the bureau false information about President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden during the 2020 presidential campaign.

Alexander Smirnov, 43, disliked Joe Biden and was arrested in Las Vegas after returning from a trip overseas, according to the DOJ. The case grew out of S/C David Weiss’ (R-DE) investigation, who is also leading the case against Hunter Biden. Weiss had been appointed Trump as the top federal prosecutor in DE.

The 37-page DOJ indictment alleges that:Smirnov had been a confidential human source for the FBI since 2010 and that he provided false derogatory information to the FBI about both Biden’s after Joe Biden became a candidate for president in 2020.”

Smirnov told the FBI — falsely — that officials with Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company that Hunter Biden worked for, had told him they hired Hunter Biden because:He would protect us, through his dad, from all kinds of problems.”

Smirnov allegedly told the FBI — again, falsely — that Burisma officials had told him they paid Hunter Biden and Joe Biden $5 million and that it would take investigators 10 years to find the illicit payments to Joe Biden.

A source familiar with the matter told NBC News that Hunter Biden does not know the individual who was charged and does not believe he ever met him.

Abbe Lowell, Hunter Biden’s attorney, said in a statement: Republicans have been warned that they built their conspiracies about Hunter and his family on lies told by people with agendas, not facts. This is just another instance of Chairmen Comer and Jordan peddling falsehoods based on dishonest, incredible allegations and witnesses.”

My Insert: Remember this the GOP's first so-called star witness, Gal Luft – his story is here from ABC News.

More on Luft: He is a dual U.S. - Israeli citizen. He was indicted on November 1, 2022, and arrested on February 17, 2023, in the Republic of Cyprus based on the charges in the DOJ Indictment. He fled after being released on bail while extradition proceedings were pending and remains a fugitive. GOP response I surmise: Oops…

House Oversight Committee Ranking Member and Constitutional scholar, Jamie Raskin (D-MD), called for an end to the impeachment inquiry following the announcement of the indictment against Smirnov. Smirnov's account was critical to Republicans' impeachment inquiry into the president.

My 2 Cents: SIDENOTE FOR THE MAGA CROWD CHASING THAT UNICORN. 

Disgusting Rep. Stefanik (R-NY) – (Note: She was my old Rep. in Congress and BTW: I’m a lifelong DEMS) stated on FOX News last June:This is the biggest political corruption scandal, not only in my lifetime, but I would say the past 100 years. Fox & Friends in what we Republicans have termed it as the Biden bribery scheme.”

Shame on every GOPer for chasing their phony drive to impeach Mr. Biden – very pitiful bunch to say the least, and very harmful, too.

Comer’s committee’s response posted on X shows his utter stupidity in this matter (posted article from NPR here) with the quote:

We have over $30 million reasons to continue this investigation and not one of those reasons relies on the corrupt FBI or on an informant. Bank records don’t lie.”

FYI: This is the second “star witness against the Biden’s to be proven a fake and a liar” … the first is still missing remember him: Gal Luft who ran out of the country and is somewhere hiding the Middle East.

My earlier posts on this wild GOP Comer & Jordan goose chase to get the Biden’s are here and here.

The two biggest clowns in this new and novel GOP Clown Show: Comer and Jordan – can’t be denied, either: This from KY and is an officially documented mess about Rep. Comer posted here which BTW Comer is in totally silent about.

What a sick pitiful bunch this GOP-run House truly is – top to bottom – all worthless pieces of horse sh*t – now how do they put the sh*t back in the horse?

Jordan to Comer: How do we put the sh*t back in the horse?

Thanks for stopping by.


Saturday, February 10, 2024

GOP Anti-Abortion: Now Also Anti-EBT Cards for Low-Income School Kids

15 GOP-run States say no to EBT Cards
(Affects low-income kids during summer break)

Millions of American children could go hungry this summer in states that have opted out of a multi-billion dollar plan to help disadvantaged kids as reported on here from NEWSWEEK with this headline and a short video introduction (54-seconds citing OK state example):

“The States Keeping Their Children Hungry”

All U.S. states were offered the choice of whether to opt-in to the summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program run by the federal government ore not. 

The program gives additional funding to states taking part that will help children from low or no-income families.

Those eligible will receive an additional $40.00 per month, a total of $120 per child, to pay for groceries when school is out for the summer this year. The program, which was approved by Congress with bipartisan support, is expected to cost the federal government $2.5 Billion. 

The program is a full-scale implementation of plans introduced throughout the CoVID-19 pandemic.

AG Secretary Tom Vilsack (D-IA) said:The experience of the pandemic showed us that when government invests in meaningful support for families, we can make a positive impact on food security, even during challenging economic times.”

Of the 35 states that opted into the program, 23 are led by Democratic governors and 12 are led by Republican governors. 

All of the remaining 15 states that declined the opportunity to participate in the program are led by Republican governors.

The deadline for states to confirm their participation in the program was January 1.

Those 15 GOP states that declined to take part in 2024 are:

AL; AK; FL; GA; ID; IA, LA, MS; NE; OK; SC; SD; TX VT; and WY.

According to the USDA, 12.8% of all U.S. households were food insecure in 2022, amounting to 17 million households.

Food insecurity is defined by the USDA as when a household has difficulty providing enough food for family members due to a lack of resources.

 “Feeding America,” one of the country's leading charities combating hunger and poverty told Newsweek that summer the EBT program will help feed around 20 million children over the summer months.

Vince Hall, Feeding America's Chief Government Relations Officer, told Newsweek: “This new program could not be starting at a better time. In 2022, more than 13 million children in the U.S.- 1 in 5 - were living in food-insecure homes.

This is a 44% increase from the prior year and the highest rate of child food insecurity since 2014.

The summer EBT program comes at a time when food insecurity among families with children is on the rise. Of those households who suffered from food insecurity in 2022, the USDA found that 3.3 million of them have children, that is up by one million from the year prior.

AG Secy. Vilsack also said: It's sad. There isn't really a political reason for not doing this. This is unfortunate. I think governors may not have taken the time or made the effort to understand what this program is and what it isn't.”

Why did those GOP States Opt Out?

The opted-out states have given a variety of different reasons for declining the food assistance program.

§  Some voiced opposition due to administrative costs, however, the Federal government will pay the whole cost of the benefits and half the administrative costs.

§  Others cited a lack of desire to continue with pandemic-era aid.

§  Some expressed that they don't have faith in the Federal government to administer the program.

The states that will not participate in the summer EBT have faced criticism over their decision. Some states: IA and NE for example, already have their own state-run benefits programs for those struggling with the means to put food on the table for their children.

Poverty experts and advocacy groups have laid the blame on some GOP shear political beliefs and nothing else.

Dr. Annie Andrews, CEO of “Their Future, Our Vote,” said to NEWSWEEK:SC is one of 15 states proudly rejecting new federal funding from the USDA that would help feed hungry children over the summer. The choice for AL and other Republican states to decline the program is politics at its very worst and is being used to score partisan political points.”

SC according to the USDA has an overall child poverty rate of 19.7%. In some SC counties, this rate goes as high as 39.5% that is over a third of all children in the area (from 2021 data).

SC GOP Governor Henry McMaster said in a press conference last month:That was a COVID-related benefit. We've got to get back to doing normal business. We just can't continue that forever, but we're still continuing all the other programs that we have.

My 2 Cents: That last comment by SC Republican Gov. McMaster is typical of most Republican state officials by wanting to see a national ban on abortions no matter the circumstances, yet they seem to have no problem of not feeding poor and low-income children after they are born to ensure that they have plenty of food.

Can’t get much more hypocritical than that I have to say – pitiful bunch those 15 GOP states – shame on them and shame on the voters for keeping them in office, too.

My earlier post is on this same topic here from Mississippi and Gov. Tate Reeves response. I note that Gov. Reeves seems to not have been missing many meals himself, um? No food problem with you, right Gov? Burp...

So, are we to surmise that those 15 GOP states have no low-income families with food problems for their kids during the school summer break? I serious doubt it.

Thanks for stopping by.