Four popular social programs that Tea Partiers now oppose include School Lunches, Food Stamps, Community Health Centers, and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
In 2004, both Houses of Congress easily passed bills to fund school lunch programs. Of all Representatives and Senators, only Ron Paul voted against this program. In December 2010, the vast majority of House Republicans voted against funding this program.
George W. Bush urged increasing food stamp funding to legal immigrants during his Presidency. Now, Congressman Paul Ryan wants to turn food stamps into block grants that will cover less people as time goes by.
Spending on community health centers rose 100% during President George W. Bush's term in office. Bush praised them for keeping patients out of hopsital emergency rooms. The current House has cut its funding by over a third.
The EITC opposition by current Republicans may be most noticeable thing they have fought. In the 1980's, President Ronald Reagan described the EITC as the "best job-creation measure" Congress passed during his term in Office. Both Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush strengthened this measure. But now, Republicans like John Cornyn and Michele Bachmann think of it as either a form of welfare or income redistribution.
All of these shifts in the Republcians' attitude towards social spending occurred once Barack Obama assumed the Office of President of the United States. That is the most important point to remember on these issues.
http://www.alternet.org/economy/153014/compassionate_conservatism_4_popular_safety-net_programs_tea_party_republicans_have_turned_against_in_the_age_of_obama?page=entire
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