Congressman David Price (D-NC) took to the House floor today to criticize Fox News for “trying to help” Republicans gut nearly $40 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) with misleading reporting.
In August, Fox News aired a special called "The Great Food Stamp Binge," which dishonestly featured Jason Greenslate, an obnoxious California surfer who brags about abusing his SNAP benefits. Fox labeled Greenslate “the new face of food stamps” (in reality, someone like Greenslate is anything but the typical SNAP recipient).
Still, the damage was done. Politico reported that copies of the Fox special were “distributed by Fox staff to House members” prior to the start of the SNAP debate. The Fox special has reportedly been part of Republican messaging about SNAP and been cited by Republican leaders like House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy.
During his House speech today, Price said that “Fox News is trying to help the Republicans pushing this mean-spirited legislation by focusing on a California surfer who abuses the SNAP system. Well, it's time for a reality check. This isn't about surfer dudes.” Price explained that cutting SNAP would affect numerous low-income Americans such as veterans who rely on the program for food assistance.
Watch Price's remarks below:
PRICE: Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule and to the underlying bill. You may have noticed Fox News is trying to help the Republicans pushing this mean-spirited legislation by focusing on a California surfer who abuses the SNAP system. Well, it's time for a reality check. This isn't about surfer dudes.
But I tell you one group it is about: our nation's veterans. 50,000 of them to be exact. Let me clarify. These veterans, with an average income of $2,500, would lose benefits immediately. And as the bill's other provisions kick in, as many as 170,000 veterans could lose their SNAP assistance. In Cumberland County, North Carolina, home of Fort Bragg and of thousands of veterans, our unemployment rate is nearly 11 percent. This bill requires states to terminate the already minimal food aid available to able-bodied but unemployed individuals living in such high unemployment areas. And by the way, Republicans would also subject these veterans to the added indignity of a drug test. I urge a no vote on this rule and on the underlying bill. It dishonors our poorest veterans, it disparages those the Gospel of Matthew calls “the least of these.” I yield back my time.