Dear Editor:

President Trump has a plan to kick 3 million people off food stamps. Trump and his enablers continue to shaft the American people, including millions of their own supporters, while lining the pockets of the wealthy and corporations. This latest proposal would throw an estimated 3 million people off food stamps, including families, seniors and children. Trump and Republicans have previously tried to reduce food stamp eligibility through Congress but their proposal was rejected. Now they’re circumventing the legislative process in order to achieve their goals. Who will suffer the most? Eight of the 10 states with the highest percentage of Americans on food stamps went to Trump in 2016. The Trump administration’s own proposal acknowledges that this rule change could increase food insecurity and the number of families who go hungry. The administration claims this rule change is necessary to reduce waste and bring down the federal budget deficit. Over the next five years, the proposal would save an estimate $9 billion. In contrast, Trump’s tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy will cost nearly $2 trillion over the next 10 years. Two trillion dollars — that’s 2,000 billion. Just to make it clear: Cutting food stamps to people in need will save our government $9 billion over five years. Cutting taxes to corporations and our wealthiest citizens will cost our government $2,000 billion over 10 years. You do the math.

At the same time, Trump has increased military spending by more than $950 billion since taking office. But helping our wounded warriors is being left to private donations. And veteran suicide and homelessness is skyrocketing. Now remember, Trump and his enablers seem to have no problem with welfare for the wealthy and corporations or with handing out massive defense contracts. But when it comes to food stamps, they’re suddenly concerned about the federal deficit.

In just three years, President Trump has added $3 trillion to the national debt, which is now over $23 trillion total. How can anyone say our economy is “booming” when we’re $23 trillion in debt! And it’s increasing!

Don’t be fooled by a man who has bankrupted his businesses six times and left his investors, suppliers and employees with nothing. He was also fined $2 million for misusing funds from his charitable foundation. Trump’s son Eric was caught funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to his father’s business that was supposed to be going to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Republican or Democrat, it doesn’t matter. They’re all in it for the same reason: wealth and power. We must not put our trust in any human, but in Jesus Christ and him alone.

Tim Waters

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