“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” –Matthew 25:40
Caring for others means extending care beyond our walls. Kentucky House Bill 1 would impose extremely punitive conditions on anyone receiving SNAP benefits (Food stamps), Medical Cards, Medicaid assistance with Nursing homes, etc. It cuts those benefits significantly, and it would require the state to create expensive and complicated reporting systems with burdens on local stores to track and record who spent how much on what. It is unjustly punitive to aid recipients and will be costly to taxpayers.
Significantly, the bill proposes a LIFETIME BAN for even a single error or mistake. This could mean for example that a single parent who makes a single infraction on the new regulations would be ineligible for nursing home care at age 80. He or She would also never be able to see a doctor or have emergency care paid for by Medicaid and the household would receive no further food support, adversely affecting any children in the house. Click here to see a full analysis of the effects: https://kypolicy.org/house-bill-1-proposes-costly-and-unworkable-barriers-to-well-being/
Please Call TODAY 1-800-372-7181 to Voice Your Views
Calling the Legislative Message Line matters. Each call is counted and each message is relayed effectively and efficiently. Your voice can help protect vulnerable community members and advocate for sensible, fiscally responsible state governance. For HB 1, leave a message for “Rep. Kimberly Moser and Members of the House Health and Family Services Committee.” Also ask to leave a message for your own representative: Rep. Deanna Frazier or Robert Goforth. It’s very fast, and very easy. You can call multiple times on multiple issues.
Tell the assistant that you OPPOSE House Bill 1 as unnecessarily punitive and extremely expensive. Ask them to oppose any barriers to children’s health care and nutrition, and to seek alternatives that promote the health and welfare of Kentuckians rather than punishing a single mistake with a lifetime ban. Ask them to immediately amend or remove this bill.
Other talking points you might want to share:
- HB 1 Reduces SNAP benefits in homes with kids.
- It creates complex and new food monitoring program, expensive to taxpayers
- HB 1 Increases out of pocket cost of healthcare for low wage workers.
Message Line is Open M-Th 7:30a-9:00pm, Fr 7:30a-6:00pm
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