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NATHAN BEACOM

Senior policy associate

Center for Rural Affairs

Legislative Bill 108, a bill to fix a flaw known as the "cliff effect" in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, received first round approval in the Nebraska Legislature last week.

Right now, if a family makes more than 130% of the federal poverty level, they lose their assistance. Most households, however, won't make enough at that level to replace the benefits they lose, which can lead people to turn down career advances in order to keep their benefits.

This is backwards. SNAP should be set up to encourage people to...