BY WANDA JO STAPLETON
All five of Oklahoma’s U.S. Congressmen voted on Sept. 19 for House Resolution 3102, a measure which cuts $40 billion, over 10 years, from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP] formerly known as food stamps.
They are: Jim Bridenstine [Tulsa], Tom Cole [Moore], James Lankford [Oklahoma City], Frank Lucas [Cheyenne], and Markwayne Mullin [Muskogee] – all Republicans.
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma reports that “more than 675,000 Oklahomans [more than the population of Oklahoma City] are at risk of going hungry every day” and that “one in four children in Oklahoma struggles with hunger.”
That’s why continued funding of food stamps is critical for Oklahomans. The majority of food stamp recipients in Oklahoma are children, people with disabilities, and older Oklahomans.
How shameful that our U.S. Congressmen are gutting nutrition for these most in need.
They are saying to children, people with disabilities and older Oklahomans: You don’t matter; you are not worthy of our help.
It’s outrageous that they voted to send more Oklahoma kids to bed hungry. I’d call that child abuse!
– Democrat Wanda Jo Stapleton, a regular contributor to The Oklahoma Observer, represented south Oklahoma City in the state House from 1986-96
And even **SADDER** than this vote of Oklahoma’s Congressional House reps is that every one of them will be RE-ELECTED in November of 2014!!!
I am ver saddened by the actions of Oklahoma’s U.S. Congress. These actions are only hurting our children and elderly.The funding really did provide food for a lot of families who could not afford food on their own. I really hope they go back and realize this decision will only hurt Oklahomans and not help. If they are worried about families that abuse the priviledge, then they can find other ways to crack down on those offenders. Hopefully they will go back and find a more resonable action that will benefit both the state and the people.