Apparently the House of Representatives aren't on board with keeping the food stamps program alive. Many citizens of the United States use the food stamps program to feed their families but many congressman (mainly republicans) have voted numerous times to do away with the program. Claiming that it is not cost effective and putting a strain on the government.
Well Congresswoman Jackie Speier says no. The congresswoman stood tall on the House of Representatives floor and spoke about the importance of food stamps how some constituents probably wouldn't eat if they didn't have it. She also pointed out how Congress was reimbursed monies for hundred dollar meals that they may or may not have eaten. She called out these congressman in a manner of speaking and brought with her several props a thick steak, a can of expensive caviar and a bottle of vodka.
Her is some of her speech about specific members of Congress and their frivolous spending on lodging and food during their trips in foreign countries:
She explains the families in her district that are on food stamps and how many of the congressman who are voting against keeping Food Stamps have THOUSANDS ON THE PROGRAM:
“In my district, California 14, we have about 4,000 families who are on food stamps, but some of my colleagues have thousands and thousands more,” Rep. Speier said.
After that she goes for the jugular. Keep on Reading Y'all:
“Yet, they somehow feel like crusaders, like heroes when they vote to cut food stamps. Some of these same members travel to foreign countries under the guise of official business. They dine at lavish restaurants, eating steak, vodka and even caviar. They receive money to do this. That’s right, they don’t pay out of pocket for these meals.”
“Let me give you a few examples: One member was given $127.41 a day for food on his trip to Argentina. He probably had a fair amount of steak,” she said.
“Another member was given $3,588 for food and lodging during a six-day trip to Russia. He probably drank a fair amount of vodka and probably even had some caviar. That particular member has 21,000 food stamp recipients in his district. One of those people who is on food stamps could live a year on what this congressman spent on food and lodging for six days,” she added.
“Another 20 members made a trip to Dublin, Ireland. They got $166 a day for food. These members didn’t pay a dime. They received almost $200 for a single meal only for themselves. Yet, for them the idea of helping fellow Americans spend less than $5 a day makes their skin crawl. The families of veterans, of farmers, of the disabled, of the working poor are not visible to them, not even when they are their own constituents.”
She never names these congressman but on Buzzfeed they do! Here's the congressman who were on these lavish trips but voted against Food Stamps [via Buzzfeed.com and Roll Call]:
- The member of Congress who took the trip to Argentina who spent $127 was Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma and the trip was sponsored by the Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange.
- The member of Congress who took the trip to Russia was Rep. Steve King of Iowa.
- The 20 members of Congress who went to Dublin can be found here. The trip, sponsored by the Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange, had an estimated budget of $450,000 to $750,000 according to Roll Call.
