WASHINGTON − President Joe Biden is taking stricter work requirements for welfare programs off the table in debt-ceiling talks with Republicans after the president previously indicated he was open to eligibility changes for food stamps and other federal benefits.
The move follows a backlash from congressional Democrats who pushed back at caving to Republicans’ push to expand work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and Medicaid.
“The policies House Republicans are proposing would take away Americans’ health care and increase poverty,” Michael Kikukawa, a White House spokesman, said in a statement to USA TODAY. “Republicans couldn’t pass them into law when they had unified control of government − and the president is fighting to ensure they will not be in a bipartisan budget agreement.”
Biden left the door open to stronger work requirements in remarks to reporters Sunday. He noted that as a senator he “voted for tougher aid programs that’s in the law now.” And although he said he wouldn’t touch Medicaid − calling it a “different story” − Biden added, “I’m waiting to hear what their exact proposal is.”
Biden met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other congressional leaders Tuesday at the White House as they look to strike a deal to raise the debt ceiling to avert a government default as early as June 1, when the U.S. is projected to run out of money to pay its bills.
The parties appeared to make some progress, with Biden assigning three White House officials to begin more advanced negotiations on a package. McCarthy said the two sides still remain far part as Republicans look to use the debt ceiling for substantial budget cuts.
McCarthy: tougher work requirements would ‘lift people out of poverty’
McCarthy-backed legislation to tie $4.5 trillion in cuts to raising the debt ceiling would expand work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, which provides monthly food benefits to about 40 million low-income Americans each month.
The bill, which passed the Republican-controlled House by a 217-215 vote, would make able-bodied adults without dependent children subject to work requirements to receive SNAP benefits until they’re 55 years old, up from 49. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the higher threshold would mean a loss of SNAP benefits for 275,000 Americans and savings of $11 billion.
The bill would also make it harder for states to exempt its residents from work and job training requirements to receive STAP benefits. Republicans have also proposed less flexibility for states to administer the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and a requirement that Medicaid recipients participate in working-related activities at least 80 hours a month.
McCarthy, in remarks to reporters Tuesday, said Republicans simply want to expand work requirements for federal aid that Biden voted for in the 1990s when he was in the Senate.
“It lifts people out of the poverty, puts them into jobs,” McCarthy said.
Reach Joey Garrison on @joeygarrison.
