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Republican-backed measures to loosen up child labor guidelines and tighten food stamp eligibility requirements gained passage Thursday within the Kentucky House over impassioned objections from Democrats.
In back-to-back votes, each payments superior to the GOP-dominated Senate after lengthy debates within the House, the place Republicans even have a supermajority. Democratic lawmakers branded the proposals as harsh for low-income and younger Kentuckians, whereas Republicans stated the measures mirror insurance policies that worth work.
One invoice would insert earnings and asset checks for Kentuckians making use of for advantages below the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and would impose work requirements for able-bodied adults with no dependents. SNAP helps low-income households complement their budgets to allow them to purchase groceries.
KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN SAYS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS THE ANSWER TO WORKFORCE, CHILDCARE CRISES
Republican Rep. Wade Williams stated his invoice would shut loopholes that he portrayed as deterrents to getting extra folks into jobs, contributing to the state’s stubbornly low workforce participation fee. It’s a continuing grievance he hears from employers struggling to discover sufficient employees, he stated.
“The pandemic is behind us, and it’s time for a thoughtful solution on how we get more workers back in the workforce,” he stated. “It’s not compassionate to simply keep somebody as a servant to the government.”
Opponents warned that tens of 1000’s of low-income Kentuckians would lose food help below the stricter requirements, placing them at higher danger of struggling to get sufficient to eat. The impression would transcend able-bodied adults to have an effect on younger and aged folks as nicely, they stated.
The Kentucky State Capitol is seen in Frankfort, Ky., on April 7, 2021. The Kentucky House handed Republican-backed measures to roll again child labor guidelines and lift food stamp eligibility requirements on Feb. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)
Democratic Rep. Sarah Stalker learn out the variety of folks estimated below the invoice to lose SNAP advantages in plenty of Kentucky counties, together with these in Republican strongholds.
“How poor do you’ve got to be in Kentucky to be worthy of food?” she stated. “That is the question of the day. We’re talking about a basic need and a right.”
Other opponents of House Bill 367 famous that the more durable eligibility requirements would put much more pressure on food pantries and would come at a time when Kentucky is sitting on huge finances reserves.
“We’re supposed to love the least among us,” stated Democratic Rep. Chad Aull. “This is picking on them.”
The invoice would shut a loophole permitting folks to qualify for food stamps regardless of having important out there belongings or an earnings nicely above the poverty stage, Williams stated. It additionally would cut back the gross earnings threshold for SNAP eligibility. It plugs one other loophole, he stated, with the aim of getting able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 52 with no dependents into the workforce.
Williams stated his constituents “do not think it’s too much to ask a person to work, train, go to school or volunteer to receive a government benefit.”
The different invoice that cleared the House after a protracted debate would loosen up state restrictions on child labor. It would take away the cap on the variety of hours older teenagers can work on faculty nights. The invoice additionally would bar Kentucky’s high labor officers from setting child labor requirements that exceed minimal federal protections.
Republican Rep. Phillip Pratt, the invoice’s lead sponsor, touted the life classes teenagers can study from holding down a job — from studying the worth of cash to the significance of taking private accountability.
“For everyone on the other side of this bill, you’re standing in the way of these lessons,” he stated.
Opponents of HB255 warned that college work would undergo if teenagers tackle longer work weeks. Employers will benefit from the relaxed restrictions to pile extra hours onto younger employees, particularly teenagers who assist their households cowl residing bills, stated Democratic Rep. Josie Raymond.
“There are no teenagers who are saying, ‘Ah, man I can only work 40 hours a week right now. But if the legislature would just make it unlimited, then I’ll go to work 50 hours right away,’” she stated.
As lawmakers wrapped up debating the food stamp invoice, Republican Rep. Samara Heavrin stated the measure supplied a solution to a query she often hears from constituents again dwelling.
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“I have people stop me if I’m at Wal-Mart or the Dollar General or anywhere, to be honest, saying: ‘What are you doing in Frankfort to get people back to work?’” she stated.
Democratic Rep. Rachel Roberts had a starkly completely different evaluation, saying the House had simply layered “cruel bills on top of one another.” She famous the irony that the vote on the food stamp invoice adopted the talk over stress-free labor guidelines for teen employees.
“I suppose the timing of these two bills — back to back — is that the solution for how we’re going to feed these hungry families is more kids are going to work to earn for their families?” she stated.
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