Cut Food Stamps to Save Teacher Jobs?

In an effort to “do something” to avert more teacher layoffs, Congress and the Obama Administration have targeted the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—formerly known as food stamps—to help pay for it. The proposal would slash $6.7 billion from this program that provides food to more than 40 million vulnerable Americans, nearly half of whom are children. 

That’s why The Education Trust has joined a growing coalition of national and state organizations opposing any cuts to SNAP. Pitting one fundamental need versus another is unconscionable. 

Budget decisions are rarely easy or simple, but cutting the nutritional needs of low-income Americans—especially schoolchildren living in poverty—in order to save teacher jobs is the wrong path. Lawmakers can and should find other places in the federal budget to offset this spending.