effects of COVID

latest in a record of 65 lawsuits that Bacerra has brought against the Trump administration.

The Social Services agency and county welfare department have been preparing people for a contingency in case they lose their monthly grocery money form the Federal SNAP. In California, it is known as CalFresh. Meanwhile, the state lawmakers have been floating possible workarounds.

It is Cruel and Illegal

The U.S Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said that the rule will restore the original intent of the food stamps; “self-sufficiency.”

“We need to encourage people by giving them a helping hand but not allowing it to become an indefinitely giving hand,” Perdue said in a statement.

However, the anti-poverty advocates in the state rejected the claim that limiting the food stamps will encourage people to work more. In fact, they went on to cite evidence that food stamps work requirements have

failed elsewhere. The initial proposal sparked a debate with more than 140,000 public comments, many calling the move outdated and cruel.

The Attorney generals agree that the rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act which lays out the steps, including notification of the public and comment periods required to make the rules. With this rule, the government did not adequately assess the impact of the rule, or how to mitigate its effects.

The states also argue that the rule defies a policy that has been there for quite some time and the original intent of the work requirement law by eliminating the states’ ability to decide whether childless adults must work given the local labor market conditions.

“The Rule unequivocally runs afoul of Congress’s intent to ensure food security for low-income individuals and to permit States, who have a better understanding of their labor markets and economic conditions, to apply for waivers and use exemptions where local or individual circumstances warrant relief,” the lawsuit states.

Who Would Be Most Affected

In its first year after effect, more than 55,000 Californians are expected to lose the benefit which amounts to more than $100 million in lost benefits. According to the lawsuit, women and the people of color will be mostly affected as they are more vulnerable and face higher barriers to unemployment.

The National Underemployment Data reveal that Black adults are nearly twice as likely as their white counterparts to be out of a job or working part-time even though they’d prefer full-time schedules. Hispanics, people without a high school degree and adults under 24 also face a higher rate of underemployment. This rule would not leave them out.

Other people who might also be affected are the homeless, veterans, people recently out of jail or prison and former foster youth. For some people, having to prove working 20 hours per week may be hard.

“They will have to go through a lot of hurdles to verify eligibility,” Bartholow said. “A lot of people don’t work in places that regularly provide a printed time-sheet.”

Sources and Works Cited https://calmatters.org/california-divide/2020/01/californiasues-trump-food-stamp-cuts-abawd/ https://calmatters.org/california-divide/2019/12/newtrump-rule-could-cut-food-stamps-for-almost-200000- californians/ https://abc7.com/5734839/