Food Stamps Usage In North Dakota Has Skyrocketed During Hoeven Administration

Ken McCracken • November 26, 2007

Right around the time of the welfare reform was shoved down Bill Clinton’s throat by a Republican-led Congress the use of food stamps in North Dakota peaked. It plunged throughout the remainder of the 1990′s, but around 2000 (which was the year North Dakota Governor John Hoeven took office) the number of people using food stamps shot up again.
The climb in food stamps enrollment has continued throughout Hoeven’s term in office and is now at a level even higher than it was prior to welfare reform.

These numbers jibe with numbers I’d posted previously about overall human services spending in North Dakota increasing:

Governor Hoeven is campaigning on economic success here in North Dakota. He’s talking about creating 25,000 new jobs and making North Dakota prosper by sinking hundreds of millions of dollars into economic development schemes on both the state and local levels. And there’s no doubt that the economic condition of the state – with increased economic activity driving massive budget surpluses and business all but screaming for workers – but we citizens need to be asking why the use of welfare is going up during this increase in economic prosperity.
Why are we spending more on health and human services while North Dakota is prospering? Why are more and more people enrolling in the food stamps program?
I think a lot of it has to do with the burden government places on citizens of this state. Our tax burden, particularly property taxes which every citizen who owns property or rents property pays, is particularly high and may be driving a lot of people who are on the cusp of welfare onto the government dole.
I firmly believe that if we cut back on spending in the state, and cut back significantly on taxation at any level, we’d see fewer of people needing government assistance. As it is we’re in a vicious cycle where high taxes drives demand for more government assistance which in turn drives demand for more tax revenue and thus higher taxes.
The only way to break free of this cycle is to minimize the burden of government.

Tags: Domestic Issues, North Dakota News, Politics

http://Array scottie

Theres nothing about being indian and getting food stamps. The population in this state compared to white is sad knowing that this was their land anyways. There’s a lot of whites that receive food stamps so check into it before thinking of american indians.
Puzzlefeet

Witless writes:

I guess I don’t mind foodstamps so much provided they are going to people that actually work.

Yep, let’s get those 80 year olds out there as greeters for Walmart and coffee servers at McDonalds.
Duane

The state is spending more on human services because we are getting less funding from the federal government. Much of this comes on a formula basis that is declinging due to rising incomes in the state.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

Why does ND need to live off of federal taxpayers?

That’s ND bureaucrats you’re referring too.
experience

In North Dakota you always have to check on American Indian populations when looking at social spending. They often account for a large portion of the costs abd have their own pathologies.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

Thanks that was interesting. I have to admit that I’m offended that they advertise for people to take welfare, specifically food stamps.
george

Your point on property taxes is right on. Property taxes place a huge burden on people, especially the low income family and fixed income senior. With no consideration with means to pay, it is one of the most regressive taxes around. It is not enough to stop the growth. We need to cut local property taxes.
http://www.valleydeals.com/cgi-bin/board2/YaBB.pl Kevin

The state is spending more on human services because we are getting less funding from the federal government

Why does ND need to live off of federal taxpayers?
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

The federal government isn’t spending on it because they have higher priorities or it’s not cost effective.

In no way do we have to continue on with programs that the federal government finds not worthwhile.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

But I will say that those folks having a job to go to at WalMart or McDonalds is probably making them a lot more healthy that sitting at home. (Generalization as that might be.)
halatbis

Good post. Interesting but not alarming. Maybe the food stamp program is working as intended and is really aiding some low income people–if that is what is happening I see no problem with it. There are many older/retired people who paid the bare minimum into Social Security; many farmers come to mind–they did not want to pay taxes while they had the farm, hence, no SSA payments. Now they have retired with little income and no assets. This is a “means tested” kind of program–let them have stamps.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

I guess I don’t mind foodstamps so much provided they are going to people that actually work.

On the other hand they aren’t about feeding people. According to the Federal Reserve spending on food only goes up 10% of the food stamp amount when they get them.

There’s no excuse for someone not to be working in ND.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

Yep, let’s get those 80 year olds out there as greeters for Walmart and coffee servers at McDonalds.

Nice that you guys hosed up the Social Security system, which could be the ONLY excuse for 80 year olds to HAVE to do that.
george

Rob,

I did a little homework on the food stamp program. Seems Hoeven, the legislature or ND bureaucrats had little to do with the changes. This one is on the Bush admin.

In 1990, the feds substantially tightened the rules governing food stamps. As a result, participation dropped from 27.5 million to 17.3 million.

In 2002, the feds reversed themselves and loosened the rules, simplified the application process and targeted states with poor participation rates. As a result, participation has grown from 17.3 million to 26 million or 150%.

At 53% participation by those eligible, ND was targeted by the feds. As a result, even thought our poverty rates have dropped in recent years, food stamp usage has increased.

Source: stateline.org
Puzzlefeet

I have to say the increase in Human Services because of FMAP has to do with Medicaid program. The food stamp program is under the USDA, an agriculture program.
george

Federal priorities have nothing to do with North Dakota’s share going up. It is strictly a issue of our growing economy. States that have growing economies pay a higher share, those without pay less.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

Property taxes place a huge burden on people, especially the low income family and fixed income senior. With no consideration with means to pay, it is one of the most regressive taxes around. It is not enough to stop the growth. We need to cut local property taxes.

The one and only reason why property taxes are so high is because of overspending local organizations.

Really shame on them.

All this last legislature did was to empower them to spend more money. The Republicans really screwed up when they accepted the blame and tried to fix the problem by throwing other peoples money at it.
Puzzlefeet

It is called the FMAP which is a formula that determnes the fed/state funding match. As incomes rise the higher the state match is. The population in ND is an aging population.
k_lunch

I think I have less of a problem with the number of people on food stamps and more of a problem with what they can buy with them. If a family has fallen on hard times and needs some help getting meals on the table, I can understand. However, I don’t appreciate the fact that tax dollars out of my paycheck get used for snickers bars and pepsi – things that most people will live without when they’ve “fallen on hard times” so that they don’t need assistance.

In North Dakota you always have to check on American Indian populations when looking at social spending. They often account for a large portion of the costs abd have their own pathologies.

Experience makes a very good point – I live in a part of North Dakota with a strong Indian presence. I also know that they are among the worst culprits of people using their EBT cards to get Doritos and candy (a contributor to the diabetes problem, perhaps?). I pray for the day that we have a politician in this state with some balls who would be willing to reform this because it’s a flagrant waste of tax dollars to allow any food item to be put on that damned card.
george

Duane is right about the increase in Health and Human Services. ND is getting a smaller % of the cost from the feds. The major impact is on healthcare. Between 10-15% healthcare cost increases and lower fed match, ND has seen dramatic increases in H $ H.
http://www.valleydeals.com/cgi-bin/board2/YaBB.pl Kevin

How many of these people are foreign nationals dumped in North Dakota by the federal government?
http://www.valleydeals.com/cgi-bin/board2/YaBB.pl Kevin

That’s ND bureaucrats you’re referring too.

How many residents receive a government check or subsidy?
More than half, I bet!
http://www.valleydeals.com/cgi-bin/board2/YaBB.pl Kevin

Yep, let’s get those 80 year olds out there as greeters for Walmart and coffee servers at McDonalds.

That coffee doesn’t brew itself and the carts don’t return on their own.
http://american-aquarium.blogspot.com/ Carl Strohmeyer

I agree with Whistler.

Food Stamps should go to those who are willing to work, HOWEVER here in Oregon (and from what I understand this is a USDA rule, so it applies elsewhere) this is not true.
My family has fallen upon hard times after years of better income due to my needing to work at home to better take care of my 3 special needs children. I have been turned down for any food stamps with a family of 5 income of $1400 per month due to an accounting rule that only allows for a 50% TOTAL business deduction (which is absurd). I have contacted my local politicians (both Republican and Democrat) and they were rude and condescending (especially Congressman Walden; R Oregon).
The system is morally bankrupt and the I would not even be in this situation if others add stood by my family in our time of need.
Needless the say, after 30 years as a Republican, I am now a registered Independent.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

The state is spending more on human services because we are getting less funding from the federal government.

I don’t see how that explains more North Dakotans needing foodstamps.

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Food Stamps Usage In North Dakota Has Skyrocketed During Hoeven Administration

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