Republicans Say The Free Ride Is Over

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(TheRedWire.com) – House Republicans are focusing their attention on toughening work requirements for a number of government assistance programs as part of the negotiations for raising the debt ceiling. While the details of the plan are still being discussed, some Republicans had set their eyes on programs like SNAP and Medicaid for changes.

However, Democrats already appear to be against the idea, claiming that these sorts of changes are a “non-starter.”

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said that “Everybody believes in a safety net,” but that does not mean these programs should be spending billions on programs so that people can sit at home without work when there are many places looking for workers.

Last week, in a letter sent to President Biden, Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) proposed “strengthening work requirements for those without dependents who can work.” This is a part of the broad spending reforms the Republicans are trying to introduce as part of a bipartisan agreement which would include raising the debt ceiling.

This letter comes after multiple high-ranking GOP members have expressed interest in tightening the work requirements and conditions for many programs as a way of decreasing government spending.

In January, the party took control of the lower chamber. Ever since then, some Republicans have been trying to introduce proposals that would tighten the work requirements. Last month the “America Works Act” was introduced by Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.). As part of the act, many work requirements for SNAP would be introduced.

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