THE TRIP.
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TIME NOW FOR EYEWITNESS NEWS
CALL 12 FOR ACTION...
WE'VE LEARNED THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING A
PAIR OF CHANGES TO FOOD STAMP
REGULATIONS ---- THAT COULD
JEOPARDIZE BENEFITS FOR
THOUSANDS OF RHODE ISLANDERS.
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EYEWITNESS NEWS--- CONSUMER
REPORTER SUSAN CAMPBELL JOINS US
NOW WITH THE DETAILS.
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ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, THE PROPOSED CHANGES
COULD SAVE BILLIONS IN TAXPAYER
DOLLARS...
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BUT RHODE ISLAND OFFICIALS SAY
- THE CHANGES COULD BE COSTLY
FOR PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE SNAP
BENEFITS FOR FOOD. .
ONE OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES -
ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK... WOULD SET
STANDARD UTILITY ALLOWANCES TO
STREAMLINE THE WAY STATES
CALCULATE BENEFITS AND
DEDUCTIONS.
RHODE ISLAND DHS DIRECTOR
COURTNEY HAWKINS SAID THE PLAN
WOULD LIKELY MEAN AN ACROSS THE
BOARD CUT FOR A MAJORITY OF THE
STATE'S SNAP RECIPIENTS.
IN JULY - THE FEDS PROPOSED
ANOTHER CHANGE THAT WOULD LIMIT
AUTOMATIC SNAP ELIGIBILITY FOR
PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY FOR OTHER
BENEFITS.
HAWKINS SAYS THAT CHANGE WOULD
COST 11-THOUSAND PEOPLE THEIR
SNAP BENEFITS.
"We know that most of the people
affected by this are working
families who are not earning
enough money in their jobs to
put food on their table and pay
for their rent. As a mom myself,
I can't imagine what it feels
like to not be able to provide
food for my kid and that's
what's being put at risk right
now."
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SONNY PERDUE, THE U.S. SECRETARY
OF AGRICULTURE SAID IN A
STATEMENT... "WE ARE WORKING TO
IMPROVE INTEGRITY AND FAIRNESS
IN OUR ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS."
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PERDUE ALSO SAID - THE PROPOSED
CHANGES WILL ENSURE THOSE WHO
NEED FOOD ASSISTANCE THE MOST
ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO RECEIVE
IT.
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IF YOU HAVE A CONSUMER PROBLEM
YOU NEED HELP SOLVING - CONTACT
OUR CALL 12 FOR ACTION CENTER
MONDAY THRU THURSDAY FROM 11
UNTIL 1 - OUR HOTLINE IS
228-1850.
OR IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN
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