Why else would they insist that women on food stamps should only receive an increase for a newborn if the child was a product of rape or incest? And they have to have “proof” that it was.
Via Addictinginfo:
Even more recently, AlterNet uncovered a Pennsylvania bill which would force women to prove they were raped before being given food stamps:
Despite the fact that low-income women who give birth to children would logically need increased assistance to care for their larger family, Pennsylvania lawmakers — State Reps. RoseMarie Swanger (R), Tom Caltagirone (D), Mark Gillen (R), Keith Gillespie (R), Adam Harris (R), and Mike Tobash (R) — don’t want their state’s food stamp program to provide additional benefits for that newborn.
If a woman gives birth to a child who was conceived from rape, she may seek an exception to this rule so that her food stamp benefits aren’t slashed, but only if she can provide proof that she reported her sexual assault and her abuser’s identity to the police.
Nothing like tossing in some slut-shaming to go with the GOP’s standard poverty-shaming.
But wait! Aren’t Republicans “pro-life?” How does depriving a newborn of food fit into that concept? Ah, I see…it’s about punishing the mother for having a child she can’t afford. Well, if they’re so against that, why are Republicans also against providing free or cheap contraceptives to poor women? Ah, because they just shouldn’t have sex?
Hold on, let’s map this out:
Republicans refuse to provide contraceptives to the poor because it offends them. This means the poor will have children they cannot afford because human sexuality is a fundamental part of human nature and they’re GOING to have sex. This further offends Republicans so they punish the poor by denying their children the food they need to develop. Those children will grow up with a diminished capacity because their brains were starved of vital nutrients. They will also receive a substandard education because their parents are poor and Republicans find the idea of spending money on their schools to be offensive. They also find the idea of sexual education offensive so these same kids that are already at a massive disadvantage will be unprepared for safe sex. Again, Republicans will not provide them with affordable contraception because it still offends them. Then, finally, when those young adults get pregnant, Republicans will happily deny the next generation nutrition and education.
And then they’ll blame the poor.
Republicans are fucking assholes.
Excellent summary of the cycle forced on people, when just a little assist would go a long way.