President Joe Biden has spent much of the past week misleading Americans about the GOP’s intentions on Social Security and Medicare.
But what Biden has not done — and likely will not do — is offer his own plan to reform entitlement spending as America’s national debt approaches $32 trillion.
Rep. Matt Gaetz and a handful of other House Republicans have given Biden an idea, as the debate over raising the debt ceiling heats up.
Gaetz, a Fort Walton Beach Republican, sent Biden a proposal to reform America’s food-stamp program.
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The central tenet is a work-for-welfare requirement.
“In a 10-year period,” Gaetz wrote, “commonsense welfare reform could save the United States billions of dollars. Most of all, structural reforms to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will better position funding for people in need while incentivizing able-bodied people to return to the workforce.”
“These incentives will prevent the condemnation of SNAP beneficiaries to a life of dependency; instead, incentives will restore their dignity. Work requirements for able-bodied adults promote community engagement and a transition to self-sufficiency.”
Gaetz cited “a history of bipartisanship regarding welfare,” as well as the work of at least three presidents as the foundation for such an initiative.
He noted President Bill Clinton’s 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act was negotiated with a Republican House. And that the Obama and Trump administrations, respectively, sought to crack down on states’ abuse of waivers for able-bodied adults.
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“As the United States approaches the brink of untenable debt levels, I write to urge you to work with the United States Congress to enact work requirements as a feature of welfare reform,” Gaetz wrote.
“All branches of the federal government must work together to find a solution. Breaking this poverty trap will help future generations avoid welfare programs altogether. We must act now to stop a gridlock and prevent the crippling of our economy at this critical juncture.”
In his weekly newsletter to constituents, Gaetz added, “As the United States approaches the brink of untenable debt levels, something must be done to fix this now.”
“Irresponsible government spending has made the national debt crisis worse. We must work together to address it.”
The GOP lawmakers who also signed the letter included Reps. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Dan Bishop of North Carolina, and Lauren Boebert of Colorado.
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