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Local Leaders Pan Trump’s ‘Public Charge’ Rule

Donald Trump Photo: WhiteHouse.Gov

Aug. 13, 2019 By Shane O’Brien

Several elected officials have condemned the Trump Administration’s new “Public Charge Rule” which will reject green card applications for legal immigrants who rely on public assistance.

Congresswoman Grace Meng, Council Member Daniel Dromm and New York State Attorney General Letitia James have all publicly criticized the ruling, which makes it harder for legal immigrants who use public benefits such as food stamps and Medicaid to become permanent legal residents.

Acting head of US Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli announced the new rule on Monday, with it set to go into effect on October 15, 2019, although anticipated litigation over the rule may change this timeline.

Local leaders argue that the rule is a calculated attack by President Donald Trump to get rid of immigrants from poor backgrounds.

“President Trump’s public charge rule is another ruthless and callous attack on immigrant communities,” Meng said. “It will have dire consequences for hundreds of thousands of legal immigrants, mostly children and families who require critical safety net programs for health care, food and other basic and daily necessities.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James offered further scrutiny to the Public Charge Rule and said that it was egregious measure that will see the U.S turn its back on immigrants fighting to make a better life for themselves. She also said that she intends to file suit against the Trump Administration over the ruling.

Meanwhile, Daniel Dromm, who represents one of the most immigrant rich districts in New York, said that he will fight the policy.

“The United States has a long history of welcoming the poor,” Dromm, who represents Jackson Heights, said. “Inscribed on our very own Statue of Liberty are the indelible words ‘Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.’ Our nation stands to lose a lot by this rule. We must never turn our backs on the economically distressed.”

However, when Cuccinelli was asked about those revered words on the Statue of Liberty on Monday he put forward a new version of the lines from Emma Lazarus’ famous sonnet.

“Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet and who will not become a public charge,” Cuccinelli said at the press conference.

Cuccinelli also said that the new rule would allow the government to reduce the number of immigrants likely to become a drain on taxpayers.

The Public Charge Rule will not apply to current green card holders or asylum seekers.

Trump stated earlier this year that he has long favored a merit-based immigration system which prioritizes young and highly educated immigrants who he says contribute more to society.

  • Immigrants who are concerned about how the public charge rule might affect them or their loved ones can call ActionNYC at 311 or 1-800-354-0365 and say ‘public charge’ to access City-funded, trusted legal advice. 
email the author: [email protected]

91 Comments

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LIC Neighbor

More and More people are relying on the government for food, health-care, housing. Many are Immigrants on the bottom of the socio-economic ladder. They apply and obtain these benefits because they can’t make ends meet – just go to a local supermarket around the 1st or 15th of the month anywhere in Sunnyside – the majority of these immigrants are paying with EBT cards and hauling away huge carts of food – their children if born in this country apply, despite some having parents who are totally undocumented obtain these benefits simply because they were born here in this country. I know an undocumented cleaning lady making cash, never paid a lick in taxes, who has public benefits, has better health-care than I do. I in turn pay a little over $15,000 a year in health coverage for myself and spouse with $70 co-pays and huge deductibles, an additional $2,700 for our teenager annually out of pocket, $8000 plus in property taxes, $30,000 in college tuition annually despite academic scholarships, never got a dime in public help for anything. The rich get all the write-offs, the working poor get the public benefits and we in the middle get squeezed. It can’t continue like this.

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Mac

LIC Neighbor- Most social programs like EBT, WIC and section 8 are actually indirect subsidies to corporations, so corporations can keep wage expenses low at the tax payer expense. That’s one of the reasons corporations are sitting on the largest cash reserves in history and salaries have remained stagnant since the early 80’s.

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wrong

just because you frame it as a subsidy to corporations doesn’t mean that the middle and working class who pay their taxes are not being victimized…and the people receiving these benefits are not absolved….they play the race card and take advantage of our system…medicare only has 6 more years before it is insolvent and social security only has 15 years before drastic cuts will be enabled….maybe rich hipsters should show some “compassion” to regular Americans instead of only propping up poor minorities and illegals….shame on you

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Well Trump paid a million dollars in a lawsuit he lost for using illegal labor

So you’re just as outraged about a billionaire developer propping up poor minorities and illegals right?

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Mac

Wrong – What exactly is your point? If corporations didn’t circumvent the system and short changing the system by hiring illegal alien labor and reducing what should be paid to government coffers and social security, we would have solvency problems. Your post is babble.

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Mike

@Wrong- “Play the race card”? Shame on you!! Get some self respect and and get an education.

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Why should they pay more taxes than the President?

Trump said not paying taxes makes you smart. Was he wrong?!

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Tree of Liberty

Why do Seniors on Social Security have to pay Medicare and Supplemental insurance and yet illegals get it all for free.

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David

Tree- Maybe the question you should be asking is why are you so willing to pay thousands of dollars every year ( including the portion paid by your employer because you’re actually paying that too) in premiums and constantly getting less and less coverage. This has been the trend since the seventies so spare us your politicizing nonsense.

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obvious answer

because we were lied to and had that piece of crap called Obamacare forced onto us….premiums have been rising dramatically ever since…and with $8k deductibles we get less and less….plus our private plans get overbilled to cover all the illegals and medicaid patients….welcome to socialism!!!

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Mac

Obvious answer – Premiums have gone up less under the affordable healthcare act. Fact! The highest increases were actually in the 90’s and early 2000’s. The ACA is free market insurance. What caused the increases of the 70’s and 80’s? This post is as factual as your other silly post under “wrong”. We see you’re Fox informed.

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Known facts ???

Your ignorance and arrogance are shocking. 1- Medicare is private insurance. 2-Most plans today are 80/20 that is if you’re lucky. 3- A Medicare supplement plan will pick up much of a Medicare plan participants 20% balance but not all. Just call Humana or any other insurance carrier that provides this coverage.

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Obviously not correct

-OA- You can’t be right because if we were over billed to pay for illegal aliens then insurance companies wouldn’t be showing such huge profits and the overfilled amount would go to hospitals. There is something wrong with math and logic. LOL

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known facts

medicaid only pays 80% percent of the cost…so private insurance is billed at 120% percent to make up the difference….that is universally know out in the real world….we see your CNN informed…even on Dem debates they spoke openly about that abuse

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David

Known facts-The only thing in your post you got right is Medicare pays 80%. Then again, I wouldn’t expect anything more from a person who isn’t schooled enough to know the difference between your and you’re.

Trump said he'd "repeal and replace Obamacare on day 1"

Why has he completely failed to? How weak.

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semantics

I think he just means that the criminals who come here illegally in violation of our laws are just plain criminals who are bankrupting our social safety net….so they are not illegal in and of themselves….they are just ordinary criminals who are victimizing american citizens

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Mac

Semantics – The people hiring illegals are responsible for hiring legal workers and payroll taxes, they’re the ones actually bankrupting the system.

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known facts

medicaid only pays 80% percent of the cost…so private insurance is billed at 120% percent to make up the difference….that is universally know out in the real world….we see your CNN informed…even on Dem debates they spoke openly about that abuse

not possible

cant hire illegals if they are not here….maybe we need to seize their businesses like we do with drug dealers to help solve this problem

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Joe G

Not possible- Nothing more liberal then your response. Haha let’s pay billions because rich business owners can’t resist the slave labor. Hahaha The true conservative thing to do is to make all complicit in the crime fund the wall. Workers and businesses.

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ELLIS ISLAND

If no human is illegal, how come the term is used in a court of law. Just got done serving Grand Jury duty in Queens. Of the twenty days I was there, I heard the evidence in seven different cases involving the sale of fake documents by illegals to illegals. Please argue this.

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#Chriscuomoisarobot

It’s a poem, NOT A WRITTEN LAW. It is a sentiment. Where is the law that states, “Give us your . . . ” And when I sponsored relatives, I had to promise they would not end up on the dole.

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Why did he completely fail to build The Great Wall?

If Trump wasn’t so soft on border security he could do something more effective than taking away foods stamps.

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cause dems

maybe if nancy and chuck gave the funding it would be built already….but they are promising free healthcare and amnesty for illegals….then sending paid organizers to fund and co-ordinate these caravans….gotta replace those Midwest working class voters they lost because of their hard left turn towards socialism….Social Justice!!!

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Mac

Cause dems- I’m not against the wall but the companies profiting from illegal alien labor should have to pay for their crimes and fund the wall, not the American taxpayers who are victims of illegal alien labor. Start with Trump who was actually convicted of using illegal alien “Polish” labor to demolish Bonwit Teller.

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You're blaming Democrats for Trump completely failing to secure the border?

You clearly didn’t know this, but Trump said Mexico would make a “one-time payment” for The Great Wall. That was a lie.

Now his solution is begging Democrats for money?

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I agree, Trump said Mexico would pay for the wall, but now he's begging democrats

Wait, you’re begging Democrats because Trump completely failed to build The Great Wall?

He said Mexico would make a “one time payment” for it, was that a lie?

He got outsmarted by Schumer?

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Republicans don’t want pay for the wall

Republicans controlled the house, the Senate and White House and passed the Trillion Dollar give away to the wealthiest Americans and corporations but somehow didn’t pass an immigration bill or secure funding for Trumps wall. Can you say hoax?

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sounds good

as long as it gets built i don’t care who pays….but i don’t think trump does the hiring of construction workers…that is done by the contractors he hires to do the work

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Republican Prosperity

@sounds good- You obviously don’t know much and you are certainly not read. Go read up about Trump and “his” (personally) hiring of Polish laborers to demolish the old Bonwitt Teller department store to put up Trump Tower.

still being built

wall not complete…dem caucus has the votes to hold up the funding…got a lot more towards the wall once they did the trillion dollar infrastructure deal….Dems were just playing a game to get their money….they all have supported the wall in the past….will be completed by 2020 election….winning!!

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I agree, Trump said Mexico would pay for the wall, but now he's begging democrats

Right, Trump can’t outsmart the Democrats? Sad.

Why does he need to? You believed him when he pretended he’d get Mexico to pay for the wall right? How gullible.

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just build it

nobody cares who pays for it…we just want it built….all these immigrants are raising our carbon footprint and destroying the environment…I want clean air an clean water….(and even clean streets and subways….I know that is just a pipe-dream)

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I agree, Trump said Mexico would pay for the wall, but now he's begging democrats

You don’t care that Trump completely lied when he said Mexico would pay for it? Wow you’re really gullible.

You don’t care that taxpayers have to pay for it instead?

Lmao you got completely swindled, and don’t even have the guts to stand up for yourself.

That Guy

I love it when they let the mask slip. Is there any doubt now that our elected leaders prefer immigrants over US Citizens?

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Yes there is doubt

Is there a single reason to believe our elected leaders prefer immigrants over US Citizens? Or just blind speculation?

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perfect reason

dems need to put more voters on the dole….they are losing ground….need to replace their voter base….just watch the debates….they admit it themselves…vote for me and i will give you free stuff!!….screw the rule of law ….”sanctuary city”….guess federal law doesn’t apply anymore….well at least we can have “sanctuaries” for unborn children and gun rights advocates….thank you socialists!!

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Sara

@Perfect Reason- How gullible are you? Trump gave a handful of corporations and very wealthy individuals a trillion dollar gift to divvy up. Talk about promising and giving people things.

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Why do you keep comparing Trump to other people that gave huge tax cuts to corporations.

Well said, Trump gave huge tax cuts to corporations.

Also, WHATABOUT DEMOCRATS?!

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Same guy posting

How do you “do a corporate tax cut”? Tax cuts do not create jobs. Fact!!

How do you “do a corporate tax cut”? By giving tax cuts to large corporations

There’s a hint in the name lmao. Why do they say Trump lovers are dense?

Fake News

In 1999 the Clinton Administration issued guidance defining a “public charge” as an individual likely to become “primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, as demonstrated by either the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance, or institutionalization for long-term care at government expense.”

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relative now

that guidance was still in effect today….so it is relevant now….why don’t you argue the merits….nobody whined and complained when Clinton was drawing a line…go back to Michigan….we will build a bike lane down I-80 just for you 🙂

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VelvetKnight

I’m always amazed at how many people don’t bother looking back into their own histories. Probably 90% (maybe more) of Trump’s own supporters wouldn’t be here now if his rules had been in effect when their grandparents came over. Hell, HE wouldn’t be here if his own grandfather and mother had been subject to his policies.

It’s the classic, “I got mine, now I’m slamming the door behind me,” thing. Again and again and again.

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BR

To Velvet Knight:
Trumps mother and grandfather immigrated to this country legally, not requiring public assistance.
What’s wrong with that?

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VelvetKnight

You need to re-read my comment, as well as history. It’s not about whether or not it was legal back then (a much more complicated topic than it sounds), but that most of us wouldn’t be here at all if Trump’s policies were in effect back then. And are you so sure who did and didn’t receive public assistance when they got here?

Did you know that Herbert Hoover used a similar “public charge” rule to block Jews trying to escape Germany? (not unlike the refugees fleeing Honduras)

Or to use a VERY recent example, Trump’s in-laws just came to America using the same “chain migration” law he had already attacked?

It’s not about “legal” or “being a burden.” These policies serve a different purpose. And there’s something very wrong with that.

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incorrect

jews had safe passage to palestine…and european immigrants came legally and did not receive free housing free college free healthcare etc. most immigrants who came from Europe couldn’t make it and had to return to Europe…no mooching….%70 of Italians who came here had to return to Italy…this whole welfare for the world is a disgrace

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Joey B

@Incorect- This post is an incredible over exaggeration to the point of being absurd. If you actually believe half of your way over the top post, you are one gullible and easily incited individual.

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VelvetKnight

It’s kind of you to self-identify your own post as being incorrect. Saves me the trouble of doing so.

OFF THE BOAT

There was no assistance programs for all the Europeans who came here around the same time Trump’s grandparents came to the U.S.They received help from their churches and different ethnic societies. I can remember all four of my grandparents telling me that they didn’t want any help from the government, that’s why they left Europe in the first place.

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Gerryatric Trump's father literally gave him $413 million

but no handouts right? Lmao. Get some integrity.

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silly

no handout from the government at the taxpayers expense…nice straw man argument…family gifts are personal and private….

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Tree of Liberty

Velvet Knight… lol, slamming the door behind you so that no one else can come in. I wish it was a door so that people would then knock and ask to come on in.

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VelvetKnight

Tell that to the Native Americans. Or to Mexico who we stole Texas and California from.

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not stealing

we had a war with them and they lost….to the victor goes the spoils….that is not stealing….please stop attacking our great nation and show some support for our amazing conquests and achievements

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VelvetKnight

So you’re saying the real mistake of the people affected by Trump’s rule is collecting food stamps because they’re stuck taking low-wage jobs that Americans don’t want, instead of just killing us and taking our land?

That’s a weird take, but ok.

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Jose

If these “ Local Leaders “ are rejecting something it must be a good thing for the rest of us.

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Good that the billionaire is telling people on food stamps they have to much money

I can’t believe a game show host would be so xenophobic and reactionary!

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got jobs now

the people in question had food stamps as a safety net….now they are working because of trumps policies and they are no longer eligible because they make too much money to qualify….please stop spreading fake news

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Mac

Rikki- Only an idiot like you could support a party with a low wage agenda through the passage of Right to work legislation (RTW), wage suppression and union busting, just to name a few Republican policies then blame the victims of these policies for “coming up short”. You do know the states with largest percentage of citizens on EBT, section 8 etc..are Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, West Virginia and Louisiana, all Republican strongholds? You should move to one of those places you’d fit right in gullible and easily tricked into voting against your best interests. Then you’ll get that reverse commute you so desire.

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you will see

in those RTW states when there is a recession there is no layoffs….and those lower paying jobs have healthcare provided….there is a give and take and RTW states economies do have an upside….$15 an hour jobs are great but are meaningless if you are unemployed

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You will see nothing

RTW states of Texas Oklahoma Louisiana Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi all have the least number of workers with healthcare in USA. You have not posted a single fact in your right wing response to any of the posts to this comment stream.

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Nick O

@You will see- WOW you have absolutely no idea how a consumer driven market economy works. If a person is working just to meet the rent then the the dry cleaner, restaurants, supermarkets, cabs,etc are not getting money, “getting paid “or “touching the money”only the landlord is making money. The healthiest economies in the world are all “pro-union” like Canada, Norway Denmark, Germany Australia and Sweden just to name a few. There are plenty of layoffs in RTW states just ask Mississippi,Arkansas and Indiana.

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Joey O

You will see was the cry back in the 40’s by Republicans when Republicans started with this RTW legislation and RTW states still saw the largest percentage of job losses in the country especially throughout the 60’s and 70’s. That’s why today the states with the lowest individual wealth are all RTW except New Mexico. It’s just a way to keep money at the top and working people poor, “you’ll see”.

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Sean

Nick- Thank you for the eco 101 lesson. Fox Propagandist have been successful in confusing its viewers into believing that a corporations bottom line is the only component of economy that matters and what is talked about discussing the economy and the only thing that matters in a healthy economy. Strange how these corporations are Fox’s financial backers.

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not so

the companies spend the same amount of money whether it is a union shop or a non union shop…the union shop just has higher wages so they hire less people and expect more production out of the workers….so again it is great if you are one of the fortunate who has a job but you will have less of a chance of working in a union shop due to lower hiring

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Sara

Not so- Less workers making more money still generates or “circulates” more money into the economy creating greater demand for goods and services which increases demand for labor. Just facts!

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just math!!

50 workers making $50k = 2.5 million
100 workers making $25k = 2.5 million
not generating more money… generating the same…just math!!

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#Chriscuomoisarobot

Tax payers who are concerned about people demanding public assistance should phone whom, exactly?

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get a clue

using a loophole through legal means to pay less in taxes and increase your profits is smart….committing a crime and not paying even the basic taxes to pay for the services you use even after the citizens of the country you illegally entered were kind to you is immoral and dishonorable

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I agree, Trump bragged about not paying millions in taxes

But when common citizens do it it’s bad?

This is really how Trump lovers think. Keep protecting the billionaires!

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I agree, Trump not paying millions of dollars by using tax fraud is fine

I’m sorry, which way of cheating your taxes is bad?

The one where a billionaire steals millions of dollars?

Or a person getting gets food stamps?

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you are confused

Trump never cheated on his taxes or stole from anyone…fake news…and food stamps has nothing to do with illegal aliens not paying their taxes…..just bizarre 🙁

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#Chriscuomoisarobot

The Lazarus poem is not written into law. Dromm is one of the worse city councilman; I think he should support people who want green cards and keep them in his home and take care of them. Better yet, put people in Jimmy Van Bramer’s house.

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Agreed, freedom is not the spirit of the US

The US was founded on the principle that we should take away families’ food stamps.

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#chriscuomoisarobot

It was founded on life liberty and the pursuit of happiness not food stamps

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Mac

The US was founded by corporations (Dutch West Indies Tea Co.,Plymouth co. )to turn a profit.

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just another word for nothing left to lose

https://checkyourfact.com
President Donald Trump said in remarks at the White House recently that 3.5 million Americans have been lifted off food stamps.
Verdict: True
The number of people receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits declined by 3.6 million since Trump was elected president and 3.1 million since he assumed office.
Fact Check:
Trump mentioned the decline in food stamp recipients, along with a number of other statistics that highlighted the health of the economy, after the Bureau of Economic Analysis announced that gross domestic product grew an estimated 4.1 percent in the second quarter of 2018.
“More than 3.5 million Americans have been lifted off food stamps – something that you haven’t seen in decades,” he said.

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Republican prosperity


These 10States Have the Most People on Food Stamps
Georgia. …
Alabama. …
Mississippi. …
Oregon. …
District of Columbia. …
West Virginia. …
Louisiana. …
New Mexico.
Oklahoma
Kentucky
Tennessee The No.
More items…•Jun 28, 2018
https://www.cheatsheet.com › culture

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