The Antelope Valley Times

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L.A. County pushes back against federal plan to limit food stamp eligibility [updated]

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LOS ANGELES – The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to oppose federal efforts to limit food stamp eligibility, which would affect an estimated 40,000 Los Angeles County residents.

Supervisor Hilda Solis recommended sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and the county’s congressional delegates.

“The Trump administration is proposing callous rules that would limit Americans’ access to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, referred to as CalFresh in California,” Solis said. “Such action would affect 3 million Americans who rely on the nation’s most successful anti-poverty program to access healthy food. L.A. County recognizes that food insecurity is a matter of public health, and these heartless proposed rule changes would have a pronounced effect on county residents.”

The proposed rule would take away states’ ability to extend eligibility to households with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty line or roughly $50,000 a year for a family with two children. That flexibility was granted by Congress in 1996.

Federal officials estimate that nearly 8% of beneficiaries qualify under expanded eligibility, which the Department of Agriculture calls a “loophole.” The department pointed to the case of a Minnesota millionaire who qualified for food stamps after applying to highlight what he viewed as taxpayer waste.

“Too often, states have misused this flexibility without restraint,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said in a statement issued last week. “The American people expect their government to be fair, efficient and to have integrity — just as they do in their own homes, businesses and communities. That is why we are changing the rules, preventing abuse of a critical safety net system, so those who need food assistance the most are the only ones who receive it.”

The Agriculture Department also wants to exclude beneficiaries with more than $2,250 in eligible assets from receiving food stamps. The department estimates an overall savings of more than $2 billion annually from the proposed changes.

The county’s Department of Public Social Services estimates that more than 120,000 California households — including 40,000 in Los Angeles County — would be affected.

Members of the board said children would be the biggest losers.

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said that children represented 60% of CalFresh beneficiaries in 2016, the last year for which data is available.

“Those who stand to lose … are those who are the most vulnerable among us,” Ridley-Thomas said, which includes seniors on fixed incomes and community college students, many of whom experience “food insecurity.”

Food insecurity is defined as a lack of reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food.

Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said the proposed change is part of a larger pattern.

“It feels like the current president has announced a program called the War on the Impoverished,” Kuehl said, drawing a contrast with President Lyndon B. Johnson’s declaration of a War on Poverty in 1964.

The proposed rule change is subject to a 60-day public comment period.

UPDATE: For full details on the proposed rule change or to submit a formal comment, CLICK HERE.

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72 comments for "L.A. County pushes back against federal plan to limit food stamp eligibility [updated]"

  1. Could someone please answer my question without bias: Why wasn’t Jerry Brown left off the ballot for governor of California, because he refused to make public his tax returns? Shouldn’t all politicians be held to the same standard of transparency?

    • Maybe because American political culture has devolved into the politics of ruthless personal destruction (sort of like this forum, lol). Fairness is out the window for both sides. Amazing how I miss Jerry Moonbeam who used to be my worst nightmare. At least he was a Jesuit with some kind of moral compass and respect for privacy and 2nd Amendment.

      Moonbeam?? Where’s Dwezel? Beware the Brain Police kid!

      • Why can’t both political parties work together for the common good of the people? I agree with you about Jerry Brown; I actually miss him too. He was the lesser of two evils.

        • I always thought Jacques Barzaghi and Jerry Brown made an interesting pair. He was Brown’s appendage for decades, and they even made Zen trips to Japan on several occasions. Barzaghi was his spin guy among other duties, and during Brown’s 1992 presidential run, he said “we are not disorganized, our campaign transcends understanding.”

        • Alexis. You want both parties to work together for the common good.

          You first. Your posts are just as divisive as usual.

          Trumpist#1 is just like you saying the discourse has devolved while calling the former governor “Moonbeam”. You 2 deserve each other.

          • Hi William: Yes, I would like both parties to work together for good. I choose not to engage in negative rhetoric with you, so what you think of me and my comments is your opinion and I respect that. Peace out , and keep on keepin on fellow human.

          • William you despicable troll, you’re always the reason the discourse devolves. Man, did I flame your @$$, or what?

            You didn’t answer me: Why do you have that opinion? What’s your status? Are you a felon, lunatic, domestic abuser, illegal alien or just socialist snowflake without manly characteristics and virtues?

          • Trumpist#1 sure loses it and then points a finger at me. It’s called “projection” kid and you’re good at it.

            Look at him rant. Poor baby. Lost without his guns here at the AVTimes. All he’s able to do is shoot his mouth off. Ha ha. and ha some more.

            He talks about discourse oblivious to the ca ca he signs his name to.

          • California tries to score points against Trump with unconstitutional tax returns law. Even Jerry Brown agreed it was unwise to require presidential candidates like Trump to reveal tax returns. States shouldn’t set their own conditions, and that is why Brown vetoed this Bill in 2017. His complete comment on this issue is said with much wisdom.

          • Hey, Daffy Duck aka Trumpist#1

            That’s “dishhhhpicable” to you. Let’s hear you say it.

            Boy, you fell into that one. You’re not the brightest bulb in the Trump tree which is terrible considering how dim the other bulbs are.

          • “It’s duck season.” -Bugs Bunny

            If you remember this famous bit, ol’ Trumpist#1 aka Daffy Duck gets tricked once again.

            Trumpist#1 reminds of that song by Julie Brown called “The Homecoming Queen’s Got a Gun”.

          • Daffy Duck best suits you, Bill. Always trying to exact revenge since 2011, on any commenter that doesn’t think like you. So many people that tried their best to have civil discourse with you, but you weren’t interested. Name calling, put downs, and even bringing sex into it in a creepy way.

          • Look, Ducks in a Row/Trumpist#1

            Go back on the thread where I commented on impeachment and emoluments and then tead what Trumpist#1 wrote in reply.

            Trumpist#1 says

            August 5, 2019 at 5:56 am

            “Hey William, why are you using a different handle?? Burnt your bridges? Because everyone knows you’re a non compos mentis troll?”

            So, there ya go. You could say Trumpists#1 started it when I wasn’t even replying to him at all. Then, like his namesake he’s plays the victim. Poor baby. That’s your idea or proper discourse???

            Do you want to get into this too new name on the block?

            You know not of what you speak.

          • Unlike you Trumpist#1, I have absolutely no criminal records of any kind. A search would come up empty. You were just shooting your mouth off trying to deflect, a typical trumpster tactic.

            Plus, fool that you are, you didn’t read my reply saying “No. No. No. No. ” to your questions because you were so upset you just fired off a comment without thinking. Right? Right.

            However, I bet you have a DUI or two in your background judging from your posts. You’re good at projection. You know what that is dontcha? You just don’t seem the honest type.

      • No matter how many guns they have, the ammosexuals are still paranoid and will be so to the end of their days. It doesn’t really buy them peace and security as much as they think.

        In this land of the free, they are likely the least free of any, prisoners of their own fears.

        • Do you feel that way because you are a felon, abuser, illegal alien, or mentally ill and can’t own a firearm like real Americans ?????

          • No. No. No. and No. Boy, you make stuff up like Trump does.

            You have no credibility. Just another guy saying stuff feed to him by the NRA. I just know that no matter how many guns you own and cherish, Trumpist#1 or is it 1, 000,000 as you’re all alike, you are still and will always be paranoid in life.

            You have no freedom. You are your own prisoner and lost the key to you cell.

            Now, go polish your pistols and you’ll feel better and those bad guys you fear will stay away because you’re locked and loaded in more ways than one.

            LOOK OUT!!! Isn’t that someone sneaking up behind you? Oh, wait. It’s your shadow.

            Now, aren’t you gonna mimic one of your NRA slogans like “Guns don’t kill people? Bullets kill people.” Yeah, that solves the mass shooting problem. You deep thinkers have a saying for everything.

          • So, Trumpist#1, when you’re outta bullets you’re not a real American. Can you still, uh, “perform” without your gun handy? It must hard for you. Well, maybe not.

          • Just asked a logical question. Did I hit a nerve? Are you jealous of those of us that have that right (a Constitutional right for normal, legal Americans BTW).

            What’s your status, William? Are you eligible to have that right? Are you ashamed to state the truth?

            MAGA/KAG

          • Look who’s talking, trumpist#1. I wrote a comment about impeachment and the emoluments clause and you went off the rails and you’re doing it again.

            You simply write nonsense and I refuse to let your raging hormonal influences go unchecked.

            I answered your question with 4 “NOs”. Can’t you read? I know you don’t think before you type. You’re the one with the ‘nerves’ that loses it so easily and now you’re trying to point a finger.. Do you want me to copy and paste your comments from yesterday to show you?

          • Notice that with all of Trumpist#1’s gun collection, he’s helpless here on this site. Guns don’t protect the witless now do they, Trumpist#1.

            When it comes to debating you’re totally unarmed.

            You can sputter all you want Daffy.

    • Governor Newsom is as guilty as Trump at being dishonest. At least Jerry Brown had some boundaries. Newsom was elected despite his womanizing (like Trump), among other sleazy and corrupt goings on. Vote Democrat in a blue state in spite of corruption. Keep it in the family.

    • “In the end” being AFTER the conservatives have packed the court with ideologues who have no concern for the law? Could be.

        • Well, at least you acknowledge that you aren’t interested in the SCOTUS functioning as intended. And yet you are the one clambering about what is “constitutional” and what isn’t. Funny that.

          • Elections have consequences, like stuffing the court. Always been that way, for good or for ill. So I’m glad it’s the Conservatives’ turn. Seems pendulum swings back and forth. Maybe that’s our country’s secret power.

            Churchill said something like: “Democracy is the absolute worst form of government, except for everything else.

            Regards. Tim Scott for Mayor.

          • I’ll take Tim Scott over Rex any day. Tim Scott, Ridley Scott, Ashley Scott, Adam Scott, George C. Scott, Willard Scott, Scott the guy who cleans the Andy Gumps, Scott Towels, ANY Scott will be an improvement over the Imperious and Delirious Rex.

  4. I am voting for the candidate who promises the most freebies. Free healthcare and free college tuition is a great start.

  5. donald.chump has 35 % of the us vote thanks to him all the uniions dumped him because all the closed factories doge chevy ford etc he said he had a maguc wand to bring the jobs back and all the naive voters believed him they sure got conned jajajajajajajaa

    • Trump you cut off all federal funding to California and to the illegals help the people that are homeless here first

      • nope trump aint dojng nothing he tried that and our dear federal judge blocked him jajajajajaaa our federal judges have more power than your dumb trump

  7. California for the most part is negligent when it comes to food stamp fraud enforcement. So much fraud going on it’s sickening. Working the system is a full time occupation for many, and makes it hard for the people that need it until they don’t need it.

    • wheres the evidence about the fraud? do you have proof or are you just talking out of your behind

  8. Oh, one thing I forgot. Newsome will get his ass kicked for trying to deny the people the right to vote for their choice.

  9. Doesn’t matter if we get to vote in this ghetto state. The electoral vote will go Blue anyway. However all the other sane states will absolutely vote him in negating the idiots through the electoral college. Thank God for the smart founders of this country.

    • The smart founders wrote IMPEACHMENT into the Constitution as well as the emoluments clause. Trump will likely do some prison time if all goes well.

      Heck, Leona Helmsley and Martha Stewart did time for less that what Trump is being investigated for. He’s already orange, so his outfit will match.

      Are you going to kvetch if the House decides to go for it for the 5 to 10 instances of obstruction of justice, you a fan of the Constitution. I can’t wait till New York State gets a hold of his taxes and perhaps finds some evasion and money laundering, oh boy. Trump is as dirty as they come.

      • Hey William, why are you using a different handle?? Burnt your bridges? Because everyone knows you’re a non compos mentis troll?

        • Hey Trumpist #1, You use so many different handles that you probably contradict yourself. Don’t lie, you know you do.

        • Hey, Trumpist#1. Are you sure you want to mess with me? I almost made you cry yesterday when you ranted like Daffy Duck. You know how he gets. It’s you.

          I feel like a cat playing with a mouse (you) but I’ll admit it’s not a fair fight. I’m simply smarter and better looking than you and you are so easily vexed and then you can’t think clearly. Isn’t that so?

  10. Just maybe this will help the parents of these children get off there a– and do the right thing, educate and make there selves better.

    And now you want to take my voting rights away !!!

    since when do people think that the government is looking out for your best interest.

  12. TRUMP VOTERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR HIM IN CALIFORNIA IN 2020 JUST SIGNED INTO LAW GOD BLESS GOV NEWSOM.! CAN WAIT TILL TRUMP LOOSES AND GETS SENT TO FEDERAL PRISON ALONG WITH HIS CRIMINAL FAMILY.!

    • Unconstitutional, period. Read the US Constitution (if you can). And stop shouting! California will eventually leave the Union.

      • The constitution for the most part leaves how elections are run up to the states. I know I can read it, but your claim of “unconstitutional, period” makes me wonder if you have.

        • Just 35 years old and natural born citizen if I remember correctly (but I’m getting old). SCOTUS will never allow each state to put on their own non-standard requirements or partisan criteria because it would be unworkable chaos.

          BTW: I’m an Independent so I get to vote for Marianne Williamson in the Democratic primary, and we will defeat all you fascists commies with LOVE and magic crystals.

          • Does the Constitution say a person in prison can be president? Can a state pass a law making him/her ineligible? Or a person in a coma? Please tell us.

      • You need yo get off that meth pipe bro and read the constitition states can do whatever they want when it comes to elections

        • Clause 5, Section 1 of Article Two of the United States Constitution sets forth the eligibility requirements for serving as president of the United States:

          No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

          NO OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS, BRO !! No taxes mentioned.

          • The question isn’t about constitutional qualifications, the question is about what instructions the constitution puts forth for how the states put together the ballot and run their elections. Oh, hey, there are very few limits there…like practically none. So YES, if the state requires a financial disclosure statement to be on the ballot, they can…and every state does. If the state says that part of that financial disclosure statement needs to be a tax return, guess what, they can…because there is nothing in the constitution that says they can’t.

            Learn to understand how your own government works…oh, wait, you’re a Trumpist so that would be a lot to expect.

      • So, tell us Trumpist#1, do you think Trump should be impeached for violating the Emoluments Clause in the Constitution or are you simply a complete hypocrite with a blind eye toward what you don’t want to see? Sure looks like it.

        There are at least 5 and maybe 10 instances of impeachable obstructions of justice in the Mueller report. I suppose you are ignoring that too. You’re good. But, it undermines your credibility when you do that.

        As for eligibility to be president, I guess a person in a permanent coma would fit your requirements. As it is, we’re in that ballpark now as far as mental impairment. Trump will likely be talking to the portraits of former presidents on the White House walls a la Nixon before the year is out.

        Mental impairment? The Republicans gave us Nixon, Reagan, Bush Jr. and now Trump. The 25th Amendment must have been designed with the GOP in mind as it keeps on sending up the, how to put it nicely, the worst. Well, actually it’s the Republican Party that is the worst of the worst at this point. Trump is just a “Useful Idiot” according to Putin and, apparently, Mitch McConnell and the Republicans in Congress.

        I suppose California could pass a law restricting candidates from being on the ballot if they haven’t submitted a signed agreement for a complete divestment of their business interests that would violate the above Clause. Would that be okay with you as it is inline with the Constitution if that’s your complaint. Are campaign finance laws that Trump’s attorney, Michael Cohen, is doing prison time for also unconstitutional? Trump should be indicted as well upon leaving office. Good!

        So, you’re old. That’s your excuse? Maybe you should consult a high school student to edit your posts. An “independent” named Trumpist#1? Hmm. Like your namesake who says “I’m a stable genius.” and “I’m the least racist person anywhere in the world.” Just 2 of the over 10,000 whoppers since he took office. I got more. I mean, he’s got more.

        • LOL, yes, yes, William I confess to it all. I masquerade as an Independent, married to a Latina, and a member of a small minority.

          But I can’t fool you. You know all Trump supporters are evil nazi racists and homophobic bigoted fascist xenophobic monsters, lol. And our dogs are too. NOT!

          As always, you’re delusional, sporadically coherent and flat out wrong.

          PS: But I do find most high school students in California to be semi-literate at best, sorry to say.

        • Hey Willy the troglodyte. What rock did you crawl out from??? Spewing ignorant nonsense as usual, huh?

          How the hell do you get the moderators to censor my replies to your obnoxious drivel. You’re hysterical with Trump Derangement Syndrome.

          MAGA/KAG

          • Looks like I lit a fuse under your sorry behind. You needed 2 rants to reply. And, they really reveal a lot ’bout you, don’t they?

            You have the thin skin like your Trump hero and you showed it perfectly.

            You couldn’t. You wouldn’t actually address anything in my post as is typical of your kind. Glad I made your day. I bet you’re still fuming hours after you posted.

            “Trump Derangement Syndrome” is what Trump supporters suffer from and you proved it.
            Thank you.

            Your turn.

        • Impeachment doesn’t equal conviction. If impeachment goes forward, all those ducks better be in a row. Remember when Bill Clinton was impeached?

    • Trump won’t be on the PRIMARY but still will be in the GENERAL election. California won’t matter anyway. Besides, are not the actions of the occupant in Sacramento VOTER SUPPRESSION ? California has a problem.

    • Does the Cowardly Gov and his troupe of Democratic Minions need an Insurance Policy to stop Trump? Are they afraid that Trump actually has a chance in California? I think so. Voters are waking up and seeing right through California.

      • No. Trump doesn’t stand a chance in California. Ask Steve Knight or the republican in conservative Orange County that Katie Porter beat.

        The republican party is dying and you are oblivious. I’m amused by that. Watch Titanic once more.

    • I dislike Rump.
      However, he can still be voted for in the final election. This only blocks the fake tan lying buffoon from being on the ballot if…. IF the Republicans put up someone else to run against him

  13. “Such action would affect 3 million Americans who rely on the nation’s most successful anti-poverty program to access healthy food.” I know people are in need. Those are the ones that must use these benefits. What about the “lifers”? What about the people who are on S.N.A.P. forever? Men and women fully able to work but don’t. They just call any place of business and ask for the managers name, then fill out a form saying they applied for a job and have the correct name to refer to. I know people who actually work and NEED this, yet, they work their fingers to the bone and humbly take S.N.A.P. How do you sort all of the thieves, when the workers signing people up encourage you to claim your single, even when you have a partner bringing in a decent income.