Hagedorn claimed earlier this year that “Nobody (in America) goes to sleep at night wondering if they’ll be able to feed their families.”
Congressman Jim Hagedorn never misses an opportunity to go to bat for his Washington special interest backers – or to put his foot on the neck of Minnesota families.
Yesterday, the federal government imposed new requirements for food stamp eligibility that will soon make it more difficult for Minnesotans to receive the benefits they rely on to help make ends meet. Instead of standing up for the thousands of hardworking people who stand to suffer, Hagedorn – who has previously claimed that “Nobody (in America) goes to sleep at night wondering if they’ll be able to feed their families” — praised the decision.
Fox 9 News: Changes to SNAP draw concern from Twin Cities metro food bank
By Karen Scullin, December 5, 2019
MAPLEWOOD, Minn. (FOX 9) – New requirements for food stamp eligibility will start making it tougher to receive benefits.
…Second Harvest Heartland, a food bank based in the Twin Cities metro, served 89 million meals last year. That amount seems like a lot, but organization leaders say what they do isn’t nearly what SNAP, the taxpayer-paid food stamp program, does.
“For every one meal that we distribute SNAP provides 12 meals, so if those benefits go away our hunger relief network will simply be overwhelmed,” said Allison O’Toole, Second Harvest Heartland.
…“With these SNAP cuts when you look at them over time, it’s sort of death by a thousand cuts,” said O’Toole. “These continued cuts will impact more and more families, working families, seniors, kids in our communities.”
…In a statement, Minnesota Congressman Jim Hagedorn (R – Blue Earth) said, “I strongly support work and technical training requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients, because such requirements help move citizens from government dependency to private sector work and self-sufficiency, as well as ensure that program dollars are allocated for those truly in need.”
Second Harvest, however, says the proposals will actually hurt those who truly are in need.
“About two-thirds of the folks we serve again through those partners again through our service area – have worked in the last year or are working, are underemployed living paycheck to paycheck and kind of one big car repair or medical bill away from needing help,” said O’Toole.
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