Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is a controversial figure known to bend the truth to advance her political agenda.
On Thursday, conservative social media users fought back — and what AOC’s critics had to say about her latest lie quickly went viral.
Ocasio-Cortez used her popular social media account to attack President Donald Trump’s administration for a recent rule change that tightens work requirements for recipients of food stamps that will save U.S. taxpayers $5.5 billion annually.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) finalized three rule changes for the Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP) on Wednesday. AOC responded on Twitter and claimed she would have “starved” if these rules had been put into place un
“My family relied on food stamps (EBT) when my dad died at 48. I was a student. If this happened then, we might’ve just starved. Now, many people will,” Ocasio-Cortez claimed on Twitter.
“It’s shameful how the GOP works overtime to create freebies for the rich while dissolving lifelines of those who need it most.”
Wrong. Under current rules, work-eligible and able-bodied adults without dependents and between the ages of 18 and 49 can currently receive only three months of SNAP benefits in a three-year period if they don’t meet a new 20-hour work requirement.
https://twitter.com/danmt1010/status/1202758681856638976
You're very dishonest to Tweet this, since it isn't true. You people always cry about Fake News but have no problem just blatantly lying, do you?
— Bigot Smasher: Justin Andrews (@WrestleBigGuns) December 5, 2019
Create “freebies” for the rich @AOC? You and your radical, socialist crew believe the Forgotten men and women, every day middle-class Americans are the “rich”. Tax relief for hard working Americans is hardly a “freebie” 😂
— Catalina Lauf (@CatalinaLauf) December 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/TheRightMelissa/status/1202828365998235648
Areas with high unemployment rates or a demonstrable lack of sufficient jobs can waive those time limits.
The new rule imposes stricter criteria states must meet in order to issue waivers. Under the plan, states can only issue waivers if a city or county has an unemployment rate of 6% or higher. The waivers will be good for one year and will require the governor to support the request.
The final rule will be published in the federal register Thursday, and go into effect in April.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said the rule will help move people “from welfare to work.”
“We want to encourage people by giving them a helping hand, but not an infinitely giving hand,” he said.
RELATED: Ocasio-Cortez forced to apologize by law
The Associated Press contributed to this article