What the GOP welfare plan is really about

No Images? Click here         The Republican Welfare Plan Is About Keeping Wages Down This week, the House of Representatives may vote to add more “work requirements” to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps. Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said the measure, part of what is often called the farm bill, will help businesses fill the record number of job openings. “It’s about workforce development,” Ryan said Thursday, adding that the reforms are “proven to get people off of the sidelines and into full-time employment.” While the farm bill reauthorizes agricultural subsidies, roughly 80 percent of bill’s spending is SNAP benefits, which help 40 million Americans buy food every month. Implementing more stringent work requirements would burnish Ryan’s legacy by partially fulfilling a lifelong goal: making the American safety net a little less like a “hammock,” as he once called it. Food stamps already come with work requirements for able-bodied adults, but the bill would expand the number of people required to do at least 20 hours of “work activities,” which can include actual work or signing up for a new government training program. READ MORE     WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING? Democrats forced a vote to keep net neutrality. It’s only a temporary victory, however. READ MORE Donald Trump paid more than $100,000 to Michael Cohen, financial disclosures confirm. A reason for the payment was not specified in the financial disclosure, which has caused concern over its timing. READ MORE Donald Trump Jr. left open the possibility his father knew about the Trump Tower meeting at the time. Senate transcripts reveal the president’s son only half-backed White House claims that the president didn’t know. READ MORE         ICYMI Republicans are attacking Nancy Pelosi even in non-House races. The House minority leader is turning up in GOP attack ads for Senate and state legislative races.   North Carolina teachers closed schools with a massive protest. About a million public school students were out of the classroom.   San Francisco’s top prosecutor is working with a tech nonprofit to develop an app that would automate the process for individuals with past marijuana convictions to get those offenses cleared from their record.       Want more?  Socialist-Backed Candidates Sweep Pennsylvania State House Primaries   Tweeters Take Hard Pass At RNC’s Dinner And Photo With Donald Trump Prize   Judge Overturns California’s Right-To-Die Law   HuffPost is now a part of Oath and a part of Verizon. On May 25th 2018 we will be introducing a new Oath Privacy Policy which will explain how your data is used and shared. Learn More. How will Trump’s administration impact you? Sign up for our email and find out. Did a friend send you this? Subscribe here. Like what you see? Share it. Want more? Here are two other newsletters you'll love: The Morning Email and Must Reads. ©2017 HuffPost | 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 You are receiving this email because you signed up for updates from HuffPost Feedback | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe   - - Preferences  |  Unsubscribe