‘Personal growth’ in exchange for food stamps
So I’m reading SB 312, the bill sponsored by state Sens. William Ligon, R-Brunswick; John Albers, R-Roswell; Buddy Carter, R-Pooler; and President pro tem Tommie Williams, R-Lyons, to require that food stamp recipients do something in exchange for the assistance they receive.
The first passage that strikes the eye is this:
(a) In order to be eligible for food stamps, an applicant shall engage in personal growth activities, which may include, but not be limited to, working toward a general educational development (GED) diploma, if not a high school graduate; pursuing technical education; attending self-development classes; and enrolling in an adult literacy class.
“Personal growth activities” is an intriguing phrase, open to broad interpretation. Likewise “self-development classes.”
Attention, Zumba and yoga instructors: The Legislature may be about to unlock a new market for you.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter, or connect with me on Facebook.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
129 comments Add your comment
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
2:23 pm
James….who said I was a birther? Did I say anything about Baracks birth status?
it is what it is and always was
January 27th, 2012
2:24 pm
Td -Now let’s see you libs come on and defend these who BTW are the vast majority of the clients receiving FS.
This is where you err. The vast majority is the disabled, military, seniors, those on SSI or SS (widows and children) and the working poor. You keep believing the hype and drinking the Kool Aide that the VAST MAJORITY is otherwise.
gm
January 27th, 2012
2:25 pm
UGA 1999
It is sad that people like you wish Obama had some type of scandals going on, this shows what a bunch of scum that comes out of the right, you have your immoral character name Newt, stick with it, Obama not going around screaming what a christian he is but cheating on 3 wifes, chritians show tthere faith by their deeds not by their mouth.
GaBlue
January 27th, 2012
2:27 pm
td does and amazing job of breaking down what’s wrong with everyone else, even people she never met and knows nothing about! WOW, what a skill! Maybe one day td will grace us with her story of how she got to be perfect, solved all her own problems with absolutely zero assistance from anyone, and via what magical methodology she understands the causes and intricacies of every other human being’s failures so acutely.
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
2:28 pm
gm….I posted FACTS…Do you have a problem with facts? I figured you did.
Fool.
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
2:29 pm
Why do those on the left have such a hard time absorbing the facts???? Hmmmm, I wonder why? HAHA
joe
January 27th, 2012
2:37 pm
James, no need to test the children, but if their parent or legal guardian tests positive for drugs, cut off the food stamps and remove the children from the home. Drug addicts have no business raising kids anyway. Find the kids a good foster home and give them a chance to break the cycle.
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
2:38 pm
joe….nice post. Great job.
SBinF
January 27th, 2012
2:39 pm
Just wondering, if someone is receiving assistance to buy food, how would they have money to pay for technical training? Is the representative planning to fund such activities??
SBinF
January 27th, 2012
2:40 pm
Also, might there be people on assistance who have college degrees? Would they be required to attend literacy classes as well?
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
2:40 pm
SBinF….If they were efficient in high school and maintained a B average…HOPE would pay for their training.
gm
January 27th, 2012
2:41 pm
UGA 1999
Fact or fiction?
Since Newt is going around calling the President the food stamp President, could any body tell me what has Newt done for Georgia say in the last 10 years?
Please could some one tell me why when you drive down 75 south you see so many poor whites in trailer parks? these parks and have been there and on food stamps for years and why dont Newt address them? since they are bunch of retards lining up to vote for him.
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
2:42 pm
Gm….You choose to ignore the facts I posted about Obama….figures!! Great job!
HAHAH you guys are so predictable.
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
2:43 pm
OK GM HERE YA GO BECAUSE YOU ASKED FOR IT!!
Since Newt is going around calling the President the food stamp President, could any body tell me what has Newt done for Georgia say in the last 10 years? LETS LOOK AT WHAT NEWT DID FOR THE COUNTRY. FOUR CONSECUTIVE BALANCED BUDGETS. THAT WAS EASY.
Please could some one tell me why when you drive down 75 south you see so many poor whites in trailer parks? these parks and have been there and on food stamps for years and why dont Newt address them? since they are bunch of retards lining up to vote for him. HE HAS ADDRESSED THEM. DAMN DUDE, HE SAID THERE ARE MORE WHITES ON FOOD STAMPS THAN BLACKS. THIS IS WHY SAYING OBAMA IS A FOOD STAMP PRESIDENT IS NOT RACIST.
GaBlue
January 27th, 2012
2:45 pm
I have to wonder why our State Senators are so keenly focused — in our worst economic era in eight decades, when poverty and hunger rates are climbing in every segment of Georgia’s population (particularly among the most vulnerable and helpless) — not on building the economy and creating jobs, but rather, on KICKING PEOPLE OFF the assistance that helps them survive.
I mean, I understand that doing this ensures them the votes of the self-stroking, sanctimonious citizens who think that greed is a virtue and Jesus hates it when poor people get food for which they didn’t put in ten hours of hard labor with no bathroom breaks, but… surely that’s not the entire voting populace! Soooooo… any theories on what’s REALLY driving this initiative?
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
2:46 pm
GaBlue…..EXACTLY….”worst economic era in eight decades!” THANK YOU BARACK!!!
GaBlue
January 27th, 2012
2:51 pm
UGA 1999,
I wasn’t expecting you to actually attempt to answer my question, but to address your delusion that our economy was all roses and peanut butter cups until noon on 1/20/2009, then all I can say is, “Bless your heart!”
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
2:53 pm
GaBlue….Did I say that? Nope? However it has gotten much worse since 1/20/2009.
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
2:56 pm
I thought Hope and Change meant things would get better…..I guess not.
Mark
January 27th, 2012
2:57 pm
OK GM HERE YA GO BECAUSE YOU ASKED FOR IT!!
Since Newt is going around calling the President the food stamp President, could any body tell me what has Newt done for Georgia say in the last 10 years? LETS LOOK AT WHAT NEWT DID FOR THE COUNTRY. FOUR CONSECUTIVE BALANCED BUDGETS. THAT WAS EASY.
Please could some one tell me why when you drive down 75 south you see so many poor whites in trailer parks? these parks and have been there and on food stamps for years and why dont Newt address them? since they are bunch of retards lining up to vote for him. HE HAS ADDRESSED THEM. DAMN DUDE, HE SAID THERE ARE MORE WHITES ON FOOD STAMPS THAN BLACKS. THIS IS WHY SAYING OBAMA IS A FOOD STAMP PRESIDENT IS NOT RACIST.
Please tell all us less educated folks where we can get a copy of Newt ever saying this? Please?
gm
January 27th, 2012
3:00 pm
UGA 1999
Food stamps increased by 65% under Bush last 14 mos in office, did Newt call him the food stamps President?
So are you saying Newt took care of DC and not the state of Georgia?
HDB
January 27th, 2012
3:03 pm
UGA…You keep forgetting that this nation was LOSING 700K jobs monthly under Bush….and to arrest that fall took an extraordinary governmental effort. Economically, the nation is coming about; Americans are finding employment. Why do you persist in denying the Bush factors in the cause of the economic downturn??
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
3:06 pm
Mark….educate yourself brother….
http://rolandmartinreports.com/blog/2012/01/gop-debate-juan-williams-questions-newt-gingrich-about-comments-made-about-african-americans-food-stamps-and-lack-of-work-ethic-video/
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
3:06 pm
gm….prove it….I did.
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
3:07 pm
HDB….again you are a liar. Show me where unemployment ever hit 10% under Bush. I am waiting…..
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
3:07 pm
Obama knew of the “factors” when he took office. He made promises that he knew he could not keep. He is a LIAR!
dw
January 27th, 2012
3:08 pm
Quite the gang of republican dumb sh!ts we have here. Proudly helping the rich at the expensive of the poor… as always. Why do these poor redneck morons keep voting these a$$hats in office????
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
3:08 pm
Why do you libtards always want to make it a racial issue? IT ISNT!
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
3:09 pm
dw….do you mean the lazy are getting rich because of the hard work of the wealthy? Nice poast.
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
3:09 pm
post
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
3:11 pm
Hey Mark…in that video did NEWT say a word about black or white? NOPE!!! But you tards assume that he is directing his comments at blacks.
Such a weak poor race.
GaBlue
January 27th, 2012
3:11 pm
UGA 1999,
It would appear in your plethora of facts you claim to appreciate, you are deliberately excluding the one about how the United States has had 22 straight months of private-sector job growth. How very selective of you! It’s almost as if you have your own agenda that has nothing whatsoever to do with the nation’s economy!!!! However, I will resist the urge to make that assumption about your character, or lack thereof, based on this observation. It’s your job to display it, and you’re doing a fabulous job without my input! Please DO carry on.
JSH
January 27th, 2012
3:11 pm
Maybe dw should be drug tested before he gets his goverment checks.
zeke
January 27th, 2012
3:11 pm
need to follow newt’s example to get off of foodstamps, sponge off your wife (former high school teacher) and go get degree
Artman
January 27th, 2012
3:13 pm
From the teachings of Christ:
The way you treat the least of your breatheren is the way you treat me also.
Matthew 25:40
Jeff
January 27th, 2012
3:13 pm
DJ Sniper: Go to the Georgia House of Representatives page, then search legislation. The easiest way to find this bill will be to look for all bills by Hembree (searching by legislator is a drop down menu on that page). This one is somewhere in the HB 830-HB 880 range – it just went up last night or the night before. Sorry I don’t have the link, don’t have access to that page right now.
it is what it is and always was
January 27th, 2012
3:13 pm
Please back these up with links. Otherwise they are just numbers.
Here are some FACTS FOR YOU!!!
UNEMPLOYED AMERICANS – UP 1.9 MILLION
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE – UP 17%
GAS PRICES – UP 101% really? it has not gone above $4per gallon like before.
FEDERAL DEBT – UP 35% sure now that we added in 2 unpaid wars and don’t forget some of Bush bailouts as well.
DEBT PER PERSON – UP $11,311
FOOD STAMP RECIPIENTS – UP 39% – numbers rose in 2008
HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS – UP 19%
HOME VALUES – DOWN 12%
***ALL OF THIS SINCE OBAMA TOOK OFFICE!!!
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
3:14 pm
GaBlue….22 months of private sector growth….TIRED POINT! That was there when Bush was in office as well. SO WHERE ARE THE JOBS!!
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
3:14 pm
It is what it is…..Which one do you care to dispute. We can debate them one at a time…Which one first?
Mark
January 27th, 2012
3:15 pm
@ UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
2:43 pm
OK GM HERE YA GO BECAUSE YOU ASKED FOR IT!!
Since Newt is going around calling the President the food stamp President, could any body tell me what has Newt done for Georgia say in the last 10 years? LETS LOOK AT WHAT NEWT DID FOR THE COUNTRY. FOUR CONSECUTIVE BALANCED BUDGETS. THAT WAS EASY.
Please could some one tell me why when you drive down 75 south you see so many poor whites in trailer parks? these parks and have been there and on food stamps for years and why dont Newt address them? since they are bunch of retards lining up to vote for him. HE HAS ADDRESSED THEM. DAMN DUDE, HE SAID THERE ARE MORE WHITES ON FOOD STAMPS THAN BLACKS. THIS IS WHY SAYING OBAMA IS A FOOD STAMP PRESIDENT IS NOT RACIST.
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
3:06 pm
Mark….educate yourself brother….
http://rolandmartinreports.com/blog/2012/01/gop-debate-juan-williams-questions-newt-gingrich-about-comments-made-about-african-americans-food-stamps-and-lack-of-work-ethic-video/
Just as I thought. No where in the clip of the debate that we all saw, did Newt ever say anything about whites on food stamps, especially in South Georgia. Your MY BROTHER, are a liar!
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
3:16 pm
MARK….CORRECT HE NEVER SAID A WORD ABOUT BLACKS ON FOOD STAMPS. IT WAS AN ASSUMPTION MADE BY THE POOR LEFT BLACK MAN! HAHAHA weak!!
Mark
January 27th, 2012
3:16 pm
UGA1999 IS A LIAR POSTING TRASH TO SUPPORT HIS PARTY! IGNORE HIM!
dw
January 27th, 2012
3:17 pm
@JSH
Ill assume by your response you happen to be one of the redneck morons that keep voting these clowns into office. Bravo dipsh!t.
Mark
January 27th, 2012
3:18 pm
Don’t try to change the subject now, because this is what you said:
HE HAS ADDRESSED THEM. DAMN DUDE, HE SAID THERE ARE MORE WHITES ON FOOD STAMPS THAN BLACKS. THIS IS WHY SAYING OBAMA IS A FOOD STAMP PRESIDENT IS NOT RACIST.
YOU LIE!
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
3:18 pm
Mark….prove it. Come on little boy you can do it! hahahaha.
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
3:19 pm
Mark….nope not a lie at all. Again an assumption that when he made that comment he was referring ot blacks. He wasnt! haha weak souls.
Obama is a FOODSTAMP President. Like it or not.
Mark
January 27th, 2012
3:19 pm
UGA1999 you sound like you’re gay dude, for real.
JSH
January 27th, 2012
3:20 pm
DW – Your use of the English language amazes me. Calling someone a redneck moron on a faceless blog really makes you sound smart and educated. Are you sure your parents were married, because I bet they were not.
dw
January 27th, 2012
3:21 pm
@Mark
Wouldnt surprise me in the least
UGA 1999
January 27th, 2012
3:21 pm
Here is ANOTHER fact for you. NO ONE CAN SAY WHAT OBAMA HAS DONE TO IMPROVE THE COUNTRY OR THEIR INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES. NOT ONE!
Paying more in gas (check)
Less jobs (check)
Worse Housing (check)
More debt (check)
Cut the military (check)
Increased tensions with Israel (check)
Sided with Castro and Chevez (check)
What has he done to make things better????