Jobs and the Economy 

The Number of Americans on Food Stamps Reaches All-Time High:  After four years of failed economic policies under President Obama, more Americans are dependent on food stamps than at any time in history. In July (the most recent month with available data), the number of Americans on food stamps was 46.7 million or 15 percent of the total population. The number of people on food stamps averaged 33.5 million in 2009, but after four years of the president economic plan, that average climbed to 46.5 million this year, even though we are in a “recovery.” 

Spending 

U.S. Debt a Threat to National Security: According to high-ranking military officials, the unsustainable debt racked up by President Obama is significant threat to our national security. According to Admiral Michael Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, “A nation with our current levels of unsustainable debt cannot hope to sustain for very long its superiority from a military perspective, or its influence in world affairs.” The national debt has increased by $5.5 trillion or 52 percent since President Obama took office and it will soon impact our ability to fund our military and exert influence among countries like China, which we owe more than $1 trillion. 

Health Care

Safety Net Hospitals Worry about Obamacare Cuts: Hennepin County Medical Center, located in Minneapolis, is Minnesota’s largest safety net hospital, treating a disproportionately large number of low-income patients. Michael Harristhal, the hospital’s Vice President of public policy and strategy, says the medical center’s annual revenues approach $700 million, of which $30 million comes from the disproportionate share hospital (DSH) program. Although the payments amount to less than 5 percent of the hospital's revenue, they help Hennepin break even. Despite the decrease in uninsured patients expected under ObamaCare, Minnesota’s Department of Human Services estimates there will still be 200,000 people in Minnesota who lack health insurance in 2016, either by choice or through exemptions in the law. The DSH cuts will go into effect on October 1, 2013, however, the Obama administration has yet to decide which states will see the largest cuts. 

The Republican Plan for Job Creation and Growth 

House Republicans have a plan to restore confidence and certainty to the economy and create jobs. For more information on the House Republican Growth Plan, click here: http://www.gop.gov/indepth/jobs. 

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If you have any questions or would like to submit an idea for next week’s “Tri-Facta,” please contact Lisa Collins.