WASHINGTON -- Former Vice President Dick Cheney (R) on Monday accused President Barack Obama of caring more about handing out food stamps than developing a “strong military,” even though military families redeemed more than $100 million in food stamps on military bases in 2013.
Cheney’s comments came in response to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s proposal to scale back the U.S. Army to its smallest size in 74 years by closing bases and tightening spending.
“I have not been a strong supporter of Barack Obama, but this really is over the top. It does enormous long-term damage to our military,” " Cheney said during an interview on Fox News' “Hannity.” Obama "would much rather spend the money on food stamps than he would on a strong military or support for our troops.”
In the first half of fiscal 2013, however, those eligible to shop in military commissaries -- which include disabled veterans and others with military identification -- cashed in nearly $53 million in food stamps, according to data provided to The Huffington Post by the Defense Commissary Agency. In 2011, more than 5,000 "active duty military” relied on the government aid.
A September report by nonprofit think tank Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimated that at least 900,000 veterans received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program assistance, or food stamps, each month.
On Feb. 7, Obama signed the farm bill into law, cutting $8.6 billion from food stamp funding over the next 10 years.
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