I was angry when the House passed a bipartisan bill allowing SNAP recipients to purchase rotisserie chicken, not because I disagree with the bill, but because of more critical issues related to SNAP and poverty that are not being addressed.
The judgmental attitude of both the government and the public is SNAP beneficiaries are unable to make good food choices and SNAP recipients should only be allowed to purchase “healthy” foods and yet, ironically, President Trump is calling for sharply reducing the fruit and vegetable component of WIC’s food benefits for new and expecting parents and young children.
America is the richest country in the world and yet we have an overall poverty rate of 10.6% and a child poverty rate of 14.3% (U.S. Census, 2024). Ten million children live in poverty. Caring for the poor is not a Democratic or Republican issue; it is a moral, humanitarian issue. One can judge a country by how it cares for its most vulnerable.
Collecting a fair share of taxes from billionaires could help end poverty. Americans pay 25% of their income in taxes, rich families are taxed at 28% and the 400 richest Americans are taxed at 23%. Wealth in the form of capital gains is taxed at a lower rate than wages.
Trump is demanding more than $1 billion in taxpayer money for a ballroom, at a time when all Americans are struggling because of the high cost of gas, food, housing and utilities.
Instead of a “let them eat chicken” bill, Congress should be working to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable food, housing and medical care.
Marjorie Mills
McCandless