Some in the Legislature want to make it easier for Texas families to get food stamps.
A State House committee today heard testimony on a bill that would lift the limit on the assets that a family can have to qualify for what is technically called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and eliminate cars from the ceiling entirely.
State Rep. Jessica Farrar (D-Houston) says the current limit of $15,000 value on one car and $4500 on a second car make it almost impossible for two parents to work and, hopefully, get off the food stamp program.
"The current SNAP eligibility policy often disqualifies families who have more reliable transportation, including two parent households with two vehicles," Fararr said.
Fararr's bill would eliminate cars from the asset limit completely, and would also allow the Department of Health and Human Services to be flexible when it comes to special circumstances, like the growing number of grandparents who are raising their grandkids today.
Rachel Cooper of the left-leaning Center for Public Policy Priorities told the committee about a quarter million chillden in Texas are being raised by their grandparents today, and they should not be punished for saving.
"They have savings, they have existing cars, so now they don't qualify for SNAP," Cooper said.
An estimated four million Texans receive food stamps today.Cooper says this proposal should get the support of conservatives, because people who want to shrink the welfare rolls should support it.
"We want them to be able to save, we want them to get stability, we want them to have a car that functions so they can travel to the jobs that they need."