Food stamps up in CA, down in Kansas
Despite the economic recovery, poverty is increasing in California. It’s one of the few states to see an increase in the use of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps), according to new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
From Oct. 2013 to Oct. 2014, food stamp use in California increased from 4.2 million people to 4.6 million, or 8.5 percent.
Only Nevada increased at a faster clip, 9.4 percent. Also high were: West Virginia, 3.3 percent; Florida, 3.6 percent; New Jersey, 3 percent; New Mexico, 4.6 percent; and North Carolina, 5.6 percent.
Most states saw declines, with three states in double digits: Wyoming, -13.6 percent; Maine, -10.7 percen; Kansas, -10.5 percent. The national average was -1.6 percent.
Kansas is significant because there has been a national debate, including on this website, of Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax cuts, which have produced budget cuts to anti-poverty programs, while also bringing deficits. In particular, economics writer David Cay Johnston, in Al Jazeera, excoriated Browback and Kansas and praised California for raising taxes. Johnston wrote:
“Now, thanks to recent tax cuts in Kansas and tax hikes in California, we have real-world tests of this idea. So far, the results do not support Laffer’s insistence that lower tax rates always result in more and better-paying jobs. In fact, Kansas’ tax cuts produced much slower job and wage growth than in California.”
I showed evidence contradicting that contention in the original article. Now we have even more evidence the Kansas tax-cut model, much more than the California high-tax model, better helps poor people. Well, how then can cutting government programs for the poor help the poor? Because lower taxes mean businesses create more jobs — for everybody, including the poor.
Look at those food stamp numbers again: high-tax California, up 8 percent. Low-tax Kansas, down 10.5 percent.
Well, at least in California, in Coastal areas the poor don’t have to buy heavy winter clothing.
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Just to recap a bit for those following at home: the state is currently running a $20 billion or so
Now, now John, this can’t be true at all. Just like Colliefornia (as Ahnode calls it) can’t possibly have the highest poverty rate in the country. Are you trying to offend the libtards and trough feeders who infest the comments section of this blog?
Boo Boo
The end is near.
When the green cards come smoking off Federal printing presses and the DMV signs are only in Spanish, you will be packing and shipping!
Skdog says that Kansas is on the outs because of tax cuts the state made. How can this RAGWUS feeder be so wrong? How are the SNAP numbers falling in Kansas Toto(Skdog) if the tax cuts were so draconian to their economy. 🙂
Read some data, Donk.
http://www.statisticbrain.com/food-stamp-statistics/
BlahBlah!! California has a much larger population than little ole Kansas and way more billionaires and millionaires. Since the voter passed tax increases for everyone, including the rich,and we still have room for the rich, and more revenue to be made with a revamp of prop 13 including blocking the elite from major tax breaks our state’s coffers will gain approximately $6.8 billion plus in new revenue every year. California saw major job growth making it the third fastest-growing economy in the US! And the best is California will have an operational surplus of $9 billion by 2018, meaning even more public sector jobs created and a better economy for everyone!!!! Again, we are the envy of the nation and should be a model for all state leaders on how to do it right……
California is by far the best run state!! How about The Governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker,who has no COLLEGE DEGREE, proclaimed that his austerity program combined with tax cuts and deregulation would produce strong economic growth for Wisconsin.Lmao! Wisconsin ranks 9th among 10 Midwestern states in private sector job growth, January 2011 to January 2014.
While Governor Walker promised 250,000 new jobs by 2015 his record falls far short of the goal!! Governor Walker’s austerity program combined with tax cuts favoring the rich has not produced the promised business climate to fulfill campaign promises. Wisconsin lags behind most states in job creation and economic growth. hahaha…….
Geo. Washington didn’t have a college degree, either.
Scott Walker is no Geo. Washington.
“Scott Walker is no Geo. Washington.”
I didn’t say he was, only that neither had a college degree.
Scotti Walker, Marko Rubio and that thirsty water bottle guy strike me as all sort of a bit punkish…dweebs more or less.
Neither does DYS!
LOL but true
Thinking that California is admired across the country is delusional. More likely is the view that is immoral(think Hollywood), and weird, with nice weather. That is the majority view, whether conservative, or liberal(not the wingnut type).
California is crowded for reasons. Not just weather. Lots of opportunities. Doomers count your blessings and thou shall not covet and envy!
Ahaul is right, there are many reasons California is crowded, but one of the major reasons is the welfare state bureaucracies that exist here. There is no way illegal aliens could afford to live in California hanging out at the local Home Depot, talking on their phones while sitting around the parking lot pissing in the bushes without freebies from the taxpayers. California has the most poor because the RAGWUS feeding bureaucracies make it affordable for them to live a subsidized lifestyle in the welfare state of California. 🙂