Republicans war on the poor- echo from Iowa

An opinion letter from a Iowa. "If the Republicans' cruel goal is to get people off of Medicaid and food assistance, the best solution would be to raise the minimum wage to a living wage." 

Republicans are cruel to persist in their drive to dismantle safety nets for poor people. It's a shame to see Iowa, where the people are proudly providing nourishment to all America from important agriculture, would be cutting Medicaid and food stamps for the poor, many of them who are essential to the state's workforce.

Published in the Iowa Des Moines Register

Strict requirements on assistance hurts the poor

The numerous bills that state Senate Republicans are proposing to impose even stricter requirements on Iowans receiving Medicaid or food stamps concern and disappoint me.

I work with some of the people that these lawmakers are targeting with these punitive proposals. They are good people, have families, and contribute to our communities in ways both seen and unseen.

Additional work requirements (because there are already pretty stringent work and income requirements to receive SNAP and Medicaid) would do nothing more than put extra burden on people already struggling.

Doesn’t our state Legislature have anything better to do? If their goal is to get people off of Medicaid and food assistance, the best solution would be to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. 

Natalie Snyders, Des Moines