Barney Frank: More stimulus would reduce food stamp rolls

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Barney Frank told The Daily Caller that there would be “fewer” food stamp recipients in America if Republicans did not block additional federal stimulus spending for state and local projects supported by congressional Democrats.

TheDC asked Frank about the record 46.7 million Americans currently receiving food stamp benefits.

“Well, there’s a record number of people in America. You know, every year things tend to go up. It’s why it needs to have a important program, it’s why I wish we got more cooperation from the Republicans in trying to do the things that would help us economically like not have the cities have to lay off firefighters and cops,” Frank told TheDC at the Democratic National Convention.

“I wish we were spending less in Afghanistan, where we’re wasting a great deal of money. I’m glad the president got us out of Iraq, but I think it shows that our spending priorities are out of whack and if we took some of those billions that we’re now wasting in Afghanistan and put them to work here in our cities then we would have fewer people in that situation.”

In February 2009, the Democratic-controlled Congress passed an $831 billion stimulus package.

Last year, President Barack Obama pushed Congress to pass his jobs act, which would provide states and localities with additional federal stimulus funds to hire firefighters, police and teachers. The White House advocated for a surtax on millionaires to pay for the legislation. The bill never made it out of Congress.

When Obama took office in January 2009, 31,983,716 Americans were receiving food stamps, compared to 46,670,373 people on food stamps as of June 2012.

Via: The Daily Caller

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