Pandemic-era Benefits Wind Down – Sprouting Mile Long Food Lines

The U.S. Congress’ long-running social welfare policies have created a snow-balling dependency on government hand-outs…

America needs a new plan.

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“Low-Income Americans Fume In Mile-Long Food Lines After Pandemic Benefits End” ZeroHedge, Mar 7, 2023 – Excerpts:

Over the past year, 18 US states have officially ended pandemic-era states of emergency – including the covid food benefit, while a December mandate from Congress will end aid in March for the other 32 states, along with the District of Columbia, the US Virgin Islands and Guam.

The collective return to pre-pandemic policies includes [curtailing] enhanced unemployment benefits and child tax credits, as well as a rollback adjustment to Medicaid that boosted enrollment.

Now, people are waiting up to nine hours in mile-long lines for free food – some of whom say they can only afford to eat once per day, while others say they limit expensive food items such as meat for specific family members, such as growing teenage boys.

From the front to the back of the line, the sea of despair and hardship along this desolate Kentucky highway foreshadowed what may be in store for millions of Americans as the federal government ended the remaining pandemic increase in monthly food stamp benefits this week. -WaPo

Following the reduction in benefits, the average SNAP recipient’s benefits are expected to drop by around $90 per month, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. That said, an even greater reduction is in store for seniors and the working poor who receive assistance from other government programs, and will likely qualify for less.

Other states are preparing for the same – “We are bracing, and our agencies, member food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens are not prepared for what is about to hit them,” Said Ohio Association of Foodbanks executive director, Lisa Hamler-Fugitt. “This reduction, and end of the public health emergency, could not be coming at a worse time.”

Even before the benefits retired this month in Ohio, Hamler-Fugitt said demand at food banks soared last year as retail food prices rose by 11.4 percent nationwide, more than five times the historical annual average. She said Ohio charities and foodbanks served 3.1 million people in the last quarter of 2022, which she called a record and about 600,000 more than were served during the same period in 2021.

Now, Hamler-Fugitt expects many of the state’s 1.5 million recipients will also be scrambling to find food assistance, adding she projects the benefit reductions will remove $120 million from Ohio’s retail economy each month. -WaPo

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Washington Democrats work continuously to expand the administrative state – disincentivizing work and productivity, driving up annual budget deficits, hampering economic growth, and curtailing economic liberty.

Washington Republicans do not have a formalized, politically-feasible economic plan to counter Democrat free-giveaway programs – and get America back on for national prosperity and long-term financial security for American families..

Main Street America Republicans do have a plan.

The Leviticus 25 Plan will lift millions of Americans up out of poverty by 1) Eliminating massive amounts of household and mortgage debt; 2) Re-incentivizing work; 3) Countering inflation pressures; 4) And creating dynamic new efficiencies in commerce and health care.

The Leviticus 25 Plan – An Economic Acceleration Plan for America

$90,000 per U.S. citizen – Leviticus 25 Plan 2023 (5855 downloads)

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