Congress cuts 235,000 from food stamps, grants self $3,100 pay raise, declares 2-week vacation

Great diary by cal45.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Friday to cut $700 million from the food stamp program, despite objections from antihunger groups complaining that estimates show some 235,000 people would lose benefits.

The House bill, which also trimmed other social programs for the poor in an effort to reduce federal spending by $50 billion, was narrowly approved 217-215.

Later that night...

The Republican-controlled Congress helped itself to a $3,100 pay raise on Friday, then postponed work on bills to curb spending on social programs and cut taxes in favor of a two-week vacation.

Effin' ridiculous. I think the Dems should take a day from their vacations, withdraw $3100 in cash from their bank accounts (for visual effect) and donate it to a good D.C. food shelf or homeless shelter to put pressure on the GOP to reinstate the billions in poverty-assistance and student-aid money they stripped from the spending bill.

Posted by smit2174 at November 19, 2005 1:55 PM | TrackBack