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Varilek Defends SNAP; Food Stamps Moral, Watchful of Waste

Last updated on 2014.04.13

SDGOP chair Tim Rave has a hyperactive spin cycle. Rather than debating the merits of the farm bill and explaining his gal Rep. Kristi Noem's support for all the corporate welfare therein, he tries to make you think that Democratic challenger Matt Varilek wants to give food stamps to lottery winners. Rave was raving so hard that he neglected to notice the refutation of his absurd insinuation included in his very own press release, a quote from Varilek's campaign website (I offer full paragraph context; the part quoted by the SDGOP is bolded):

The difficult economic conditions of the last few years have led to record participation rates in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. The Senate-passed bill takes a reasonable approach to finding $4.5 billion in savings from SNAP largely through reducing waste and abuse of the program. The draft House Farm Bill would cut almost four times as much, or roughly $16 billion from SNAP. Because it goes well beyond eliminating waste and abuse, the draft House bill goes too far, taking away nutritional assistance from eligible children and families just when they need it most. Earlier this year, Congresswoman Noem also voted for the Ryan Budget which would convert SNAP to a block grant and cut more than $130 billion from the program in the process. I agree with the many religious organizations who have decried such cuts as immoral. Though there may be little political upside in doing so, I would defend this program for folks who do not abuse it [Matt Varilek, "Fighting for South Dakota Family Farms and Ranches," MattforSD.com, 2012.07.10].

David Lias duly dings Rave's hyperbole, then turns his attention to just how much waste occurs in the food stamps program. It turns out that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program runs a pretty tight ship:

Just how prevalent are food stamp abuse and waste? In 2010, SNAP's payment accuracy rate averaged 96.2 percent nationwide. That's an all-time high for the program and includes both under- and overpayment. The error rate drops below 3 percent for overpayment alone.

Egregious fraud happens so infrequently that stronger enforcement being proposed for SNAP isn't even expected to result in meaningful savings to taxpayers, and it wasn't scored by the Congressional Budget Office, notes Stacy Dean, of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities [David Lias, "Farm Bill Discussion Brings out the Worst," Vermillion Plain Talk, 2012.07.26].

Noem and her House GOP colleagues achieve 70% of their SNAP cuts by eliminating something called "categorical eligibility," which allows states to align food stamp eligibility with criteria for other assistance programs like TANF and Medicaid. Categorical eligibility eliminates administrative costs; eliminating it raises costs and red tape for the 40-plus states that use it. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities points out other big reasons that cutting categorical eligibility is a completely misguided policy:

The cut would push millions of low-income people off of SNAP. CBO estimates that repealing categorical eligibility would eliminate food assistance to 1.8 million low-income people; the Administration's estimate is 3 million. Most of those who would lose eligibility are either low-income working families with children or seniors.

...Categorical eligibility does not cause substantial SNAP benefits to go to non-needy families. In 2010, only 1.5 percent of all SNAP households had monthly disposable income (i.e., income after SNAP's deductions) above the poverty line. In other words, with the categorical eligibility option in place, nearly 99 percent of all SNAP households have disposable income that leaves them in poverty.

...Categorical eligibility has not been a major factor in SNAP spending growth in recent years. According to CBO, states' use of this option accounts for only about 2 percent of program costs. Factors like the severe economic downturn dwarf the effects of categorical eligibility [Dorothy Rosenbaum and Stacy Dean, "House Agriculture Committee Farm Bill Would Throw 2 to 3 Million People Off of SNAP," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2012.07.12].

Recall the official state crime stats released earlier this month that show that of all the nefarious crimes in our state last year, there were only three cases of welfare fraud.

Rave and the GOP love to burn the poor in effigy, when in fact abuse of public assistance programs by the poor is one of the least of our policy problems. If Republicans are really concerned that anyone above the poverty line may be dipping into the welfare trough, then they should attack the big lottery winners, the recipients of their own Governor's corporate welfare programs, as well as Rep. Noem's doggedly defended federal handouts for farmers and flyers who surely are making more than poverty wages.

27 Comments

  1. mike 2012.07.28

    Varilek has one problem. His primary wasn't competetive enough for him to build name id with voters around the state.

    He is absolutely driving the issues the news papers and free media are covering. But no one knows who he is.

  2. Julie Gross (NE) 2012.07.28

    --The Senate-passed bill takes a reasonable approach to finding $4.5 billion in savings from SNAP largely through reducing waste and abuse of the program.

    Why does the Dem-controlled Senate have to pass a bill in order to eliminate fraud & waste?

    With the likes of Harry Reid and tax cheat Geitner and the disgraced CharLIE Rangel, I suppose the Dems have to spell out the possible crimes in every bill.

    We have to read the bll to know if fraud & waste are prohibited.

  3. Julie Gross (NE) 2012.07.28

    --Rep. Noem’s doggedly defended federal handouts for farmers and flyers who surely are making more than poverty wages.

    In many if not most cases, federal grazing leases are a net loss to the rancher who buys them.

    Any ideas on why a rancher would do such a thing? Any of you ranching experts who like to type?

  4. Julie Gross (NE) 2012.07.28

    --But no one knows who he is.

    No one cares who he is?

  5. Jana 2012.07.28

    Julie, I think it's more because he doesn't have an R after his name. There is a big row to hoe for Matt in terms of name recognition, especially ina state that prefers to make their political selection based on one letter and not the substance of the candidate.

    The fact that we elected Kristi Noem (recent intern and graduate of SDSU) is a great example of a willfully ignorant electorate who are too lazy to look at substance and rely on party affiliation and have a comprehension level dictated by how many words you can get on a bumper sticker...as long as it's not more than 4.

    Julie, I would even bet you would agree that we want to send our smartest to Washington to get our work done.

  6. G-Man 2012.07.28

    My perception of Rep. Noem is she does alot of talking when the cameras are rolling, but, when it comes to the actual working discussions on committees, she is no where to be found.

  7. Joseph G Thompson 2012.07.28

    Jana,

    Pleased to see that you think I am a willfull ignorant voter. Perhaps that is why the voice of the progressive movement is muted in South Dakota, many, not all, believe that they are morally and intellectually superior to everybody else.

  8. Joseph G Thompson 2012.07.28

    Forgot to mention, no I do not think we need to send our smartest to Washington, we need to send people with common sense.

  9. Jana 2012.07.28

    Joseph...I don't know if you are willfully ignorant or not...my point was that when the letter R is the only thing people look at...well the odds are they are willfully ignorant.

  10. Owen Reitzel 2012.07.28

    "Perhaps that is why the voice of the progressive movement is muted in South Dakota, many, not all, believe that they are morally and intellectually superior to everybody else."

    No Joesph its the Republicans who feel that way and let me point to Mitt Romney your leader who looks down on not just the Democrats but anybody who does not make 7 figures

  11. Joseph G Thompson 2012.07.28

    Then explain to me why the Democratic party is actually immaterial in South Dakota politics, and Mr Reitzel you should not make assumptions about a person's political beliefs, supported and voted for Obama in the last election, ask Corri. I merely made an observation concerning the Progressive movement in South Dakota and you immediately made an assumption based only on emotion, not fact and responded that way. Sadly that is what the Progressive movement, which had a long and proud history in US politics, has become. Anyone who does not agree with all of the movements positions is intellectually inferior, racist, anti homosexual, against womens rights, hates poor people or wants war. Tell me how you know for a fact that Romney looks down on people who don't make 7 figures. My comment on the Progressive movement in South Dakota stands and is shown to be fact by both your and Jana's comments.

  12. caheidelberger Post author | 2012.07.28

    Joseph, I have to roll with Owen here. As a voice of the loyal opposition in South Dakota, I hear all sorts of condescension from various conservatives (not from all, but from plenty) about my moral and intellectual inferiority. Thinking the opposition is morally or intellectually inferior does not appear to be unique to any party or persuasion.

  13. Joseph G Thompson 2012.07.28

    No arguement from me on that point Corri although I have heard no one ever question your intellect, whether they like you or not and have rarely seen you verbally demonstrate any sense of intellectual superiority, but can't say the same for several of your posters. Intellect is shown by a reasoning mind and not an emotional mind and the Progressive movement has gone away from a reasoning mindset to an emotional mindset. Bill Fleming and Larry Kurtz(in his own particular way) are Progressives with reasoning minds that I rarely agree with but I have the utmost respect for their opinions and listen closely to what they say(although with Larry it can really get confusing at times). They both have caused me to make adjustments to the way I think. Opinions displayed by Jana and Mr Reitzal leave me shaking my head as do a few of the right wing posters.

  14. Jana 2012.07.29

    Joseph, sorry I make you shake your head and I will agree with you that sometimes the Republican's absolute power in SD state politics does make me a little angry at times.

    I honestly believe that there are some very intelligent Republicans, many are good friends. It's the ones that seem to borrow their thoughts from ALEC and whatever the talking point de jour happens to be that day.

    With regard to your claim that Progressives have abandoned intellect and reason for emotion, I find it interesting that the red states seem to mirror those states that rank the lowest in higher educational attainment. And please tell me that the Tea Party movement is based firmly in reason, intellect and not emotion. Death panels, birthers and those 30% that believe the President is a Muslim are all very reasoned and emotionless claims. The reasoning behind the Republican's global warming denial is of course based on intellect...and in South Dakota 'astrology.'

    As for your belief in the demise of the progressive movement in the country goes...last I checked the Democratic party (not Democrat party as some use dismissively) still controls the Senate and the Executive branches.

    Or you can look at the current approval ratings of each party in Congress right now...here's a spoiler alert...nationally, the Republicans aren't winning.

    Yes, South Dakota is firmly entrenched in Republicans hands and the Democratic party faces challenges in chipping away at that absolute power.

    My guess is that shift will come from a dissatisfaction with the Republican party's perceived cronyism, inter-party skirmishes from the radical right, an inbred bureaucratic culture in Pierre, a growing distrust best evidenced by the current SoS and lastly the Republican driven assault on education, the elderly and women's reproductive rights.

    What you call emotion, others might call passion. And yes, I am passionate about certain issues that include health care, education, the environment and social justice.

  15. Anne 2012.07.29

    Someone named Corri?

  16. Douglas Wiken 2012.07.29

    The SD GOP has devolved from a progressive useful party to an irrelevant tool of the very rich and connected supported by a bunch of wiling fools who believe apparently that if they just support the party of the rich that they too will somehow become rich as if they had rubbed a magic lantern.

    Support for Republican Partisans in South Dakota is a mystery unless you assume willful ignorance of reality and faith in mythology on the part of a chunk of South Dakotans willing to destroy their own interests in the interest of irrelevancy.

  17. Joseph G Thompson 2012.07.29

    Jana, only talking about the Progressive movement in South Dakota, agree it is alive and well in many parts of our great nation, as well it should be. We would live in a very dull world if everyone agreed with each other. Democratic progressives have waited for over 100 years to be a relivant long lasting political movement in South Dakota. Tom Daschle was the party's great hope, but like many other Democrats and Republicans when he strayed to far from home he was booted out. That is why John Thune, while an attractive candidate to many Republicans, will if he has any sense at all, run from being nominated for Vice-President. Take a look back in South Dakota political history, don't have to go too far back to Karl Mundt and compare his political life to George McGovern's, Tom Daschle's and Tim Johnson's. Don't compare their political beliefs just the track their political life. I think you will find the track Mundt and Johnson took to be much alike and McGovern's and Daschle's to be much like each other's.

    Anne,
    The double rr are the result of, as Mr Wilken pointed out, an overly agressive left index finger of a "wiling fool".

  18. Jana 2012.07.29

    Joseph, I think what you summarized there is best captured with George
    McGovern's great line when Prairie Home Companion was at the Mitchell Corn Palace shortly after Tom Daschle was removed from the highest ranking position in the US Senate.

    "We in South Dakota know how to handle hardship and adversity...it's success we have a hard time with."

  19. Anne 2012.07.29

    Joseph est une vraie personne?

  20. Joseph G Thompson 2012.07.29

    Anne,
    The only foreign language I speak here is Klingon and that is just to make Larry Kurtz happy now and then.
    I suppose that post was an attempt to make me feel intellectually inferior to you and make you smile. If you believe that you have been successful, I am happy for you because that has been my goal in life for the past few years, make people smile, and if you are happy I am too. Many people here believe I am a "wiling fool" so join the crowd.

  21. larry kurtz 2012.07.29

    Mr. Thompson: I've missed you here at Madville. What have you been doing?

  22. Joseph G Thompson 2012.07.29

    Been recovering from a stem cell transplant. This old Senior Master Sgt's body is starting to feel like it's 18 years old again. Thought maybe I would come back for awhile and be a slightly more rational you, well maybe.
    People like your Pops, may they rest in peace, taught me as well as he taught you. You p--- off one side and I'll do the other and maybe we can get them to meet in the middle, where they should be.

  23. Joseph G Thompson 2012.07.29

    Jana,
    I think it comes down to a definition of successful politician. Is it his personal career that makes him successful in South Dakota or how well he represents the values of a majority of the voters in South Dakota. Karl Mundt never took his political career past South Dakota and constantly represented the values of a majority of the voters. George McGovern, on the other hand, while searching for a successful personal career abandoned the values of a vast majority of South Dakota voters and adopted the values of the at that time liberal wing of the National Democratic party. Results no more Senate seat and South Dakota voted against him in the national election for President.
    There is an old adage, you can lead the horse to water but you can't make him drink. Thats true, but you can make him want to drink by giving him small sips at a time. Thats what Progressive need to do in South Dakota, abandon the silliness of the national movement, adapt to South Dakota values and in a rational, non confrontational way show how those values reflect South Dakota.
    Remember the greatest fight in South Dakota politcal history was fought at the turn of the 20th century. It was not between the Democratic and Republican parties but between Stalwart and Progressive wings of the Republican party. Adapt and overcome, until Progressives in South Dakota learn that their time will never come. Sorry for being so long winded, it is one of my many faults.

  24. Jana 2012.07.29

    Joe is your standard the same if the politician happens to be a 'she?' ;-) I think you owe Kristi and Stephanie an apology.

    I'm also curious if considering that the majority of the voters of South Dakota have twice defeated anti-abortion measures if John needs to adjust his thinking there. You did say that success is how well they represent the values of the majority of the voters of South Dakota...right?

  25. Joseph G Thompson 2012.07.29

    Yeah Jenna, I think it might well apply to a she too. Neither Congresswoman Noem nor former Congresswoman Herseth have or had served long enough too make an even dumber guess. That's why I didn't mention them. Though Ms Herseth was a very capable Representative, I think she was in the wrong state at the wrong time when she lost.
    Since I am retired, a natural bs er, well liked or at least tolerated by most people and have a very open and inquisitive mind I talk to a lot of people. My conversations are with people from all walks of life, from advanced degress to high school drop outs, Democrats and Republicans and I think abortion is a subject they would like to have just go away. Think anybody who runs for any political office in South Dakota would be foolish to bring it up, they should just say it is the law of the land and would require a Constitutional amendment or a new arguement in the Supreme Court to change that fact. I do believe that a fetus after it quickens is a human life. I do believe the taking of any human by any means is something that is best left up to the person taking that life and his/her God,if applicable.

  26. Joseph G Thompson 2012.07.29

    OOPs didn't answer your question. Yeah, I think John Thune would be in serious trouble if he came back to South Dakota and started ranting and raving about the "crime of abortion", he like everyone else is entitled to his opinon, but if he started pushing an anti abortion position in his next race I think he would lose, cause people just don't want to hear about it anymore and that includes me.

  27. Joseph G Thompson 2012.07.29

    One last post before I pick up my kindle a read for awhile.
    Anne,
    My French, as well as my English, is not the best in the world but if I am reading it correctly I think Cori could tell you I am a real person and Joseph G Thompson is my real name and I really live in Madison S.D. and my political and religious beliefs are as crazy as you think they are because I have lived around the world and throughout the US and the only thing I hate are stupied people. Stupied is a new word created by me with the help of Bill Flemming during a conversation with this sites resident personal representative of God.

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