In an effort to attack President Donald Trump, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) just told a huge whopper.
Ocasio-Cortez claimed that had Trump proposed changes to the food stamps program been in effect in 2008 after her father died, that her family “might’ve just starved.”
From Fox News:
“My family relied on food stamps (EBT) when my dad died at 48. I was a student. If this happened then, we might’ve just starved. Now, many people will,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “It’s shameful how the GOP works overtime to create freebies for the rich while dissolving lifelines of those who need it most.”
My family relied on food stamps (EBT) when my dad died at 48.
I was a student. If this happened then, we might’ve just starved.
Now, many people will.
It’s shameful how the GOP works overtime to create freebies for the rich while dissolving lifelines of those who need it most. https://t.co/WOrYvhfPj4
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 5, 2019
But she was immediately busted by the facts. Notice how she says “student” suggesting child, as opposed to able-bodied adult college student.
The New York Democrat was 19 and about to begin her sophomore year at Boston University when her father, Sergio Ocasio, died of lung cancer. It is likely her mother still would have claimed her as a dependent at that time.
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington-based think tank, challenged the “Squad” member’s claim, writing:
“The rule applies to able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 49 who do not have dependents. The rule wouldn’t apply to parents with minor children, the elderly, or disabled people.”
Several Twitter users also slammed the New York Democrat for spreading “Fake News” online by implying the new rule prevents children from receiving benefits. Some users also pointed out that able-bodied adults between ages 18 and 49 without dependents can still qualify for food stamps if they train or work a minimum of 20 hours a week.
The number of Americans on #foodstamps has plummeted as jobs and wages have increased—especially for low-income Americans.https://t.co/QlKNUlc7Xh
— Heritage Foundation (@Heritage) December 6, 2019
Ocasio-Cortez often leaves out that her father was an architect who owned his own firm. She also often leaves out of the equation that her family owned their own home in Westchester and still had her father’s condo in the Bronx at the time of his death. Indeed, according to the NY Post her mother owned it and Ocasio-Cortez was still using it as her legal address until recently when questions were raised earlier this year as to whether she was actually living there.
1) They would not have starved.
2) The law wouldn’t have applied to them.
3) If you can’t agree that single, able-bodied people should be working if collecting money from their fellow citizens, you’re part of the problem. https://t.co/XNw1ynXOs6— Fuzzy Chimp (@fuzzychimpcom) December 6, 2019
The new rules don't apply to families with children.
You'd think a member of congress would know that.https://t.co/RmGQW4PoSs pic.twitter.com/ZyYu5OucdZ— Jim (@Ifitsthisname) December 5, 2019
The reality is that the changes will help make the program more sustainable and will help move people from welfare to work. And the “work” and qualification requirements aren’t particularly onerous.
Well, that and the requirements for being exempted for the work requirement don't look that onerous, at least on paper: "incapacity to work" is based on a doctor's note, not SSI/Soc Sec eligibility, inability by reason of being a caregiver is for any child under 6, not just —–
— Jane the Actuary (@JanetheActuary) December 6, 2019
your own kid, or caring for an adult who is incapacitated more than 20 hours per week, based on a self-report rather than some extensive proof, etc. https://t.co/bMDvnsKwRd.
— Jane the Actuary (@JanetheActuary) December 6, 2019
But hey, why let reality come into play when you’re pushing a narrative? This is from the same person who came in with the 2018 class, claiming that we have only 12 years left.
HT: Twitchy
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