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Free cell phones on the taxpayer dime?

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    Arkansas lawmaker introduces bill to change government giveaway

  • Duration 3:40
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-- lawmakers set to introduce a bill to overhaul program called lifeline it was started.

-- years ago but today provides free cell phones -- people in need sounds good on Paper.

But Arkansas congressman Tim Griffin calls -- uncle Sam's unlimited plan says it's wasting your money take a look at one -- that runs in favor the program.

The telephones -- is the most important tools we have it keeps -- connected.

And South Carolina lifeline can help eligible households get basic phone service through their local -- come.

Company and -- -- normal times.

Well my next guest wants to change artist Tim Griffin -- congressmen arkansans are good morning Q and welcome here to America's Newsroom good morning I've got some numbers here that are stunning.

This went from 488.

Million dollars in 2000.

To one point eight billion in 2011.

Other -- -- well it's exploding in and if I could say a few words about this a wanna clarify.

The lifeline program was started by the federal government decades ago to provide hard lines hold.

Telephone service to the less fortunate and that's very reasonable.

But what and and and my bill doesn't impact -- What happened a few years ago is the federal government said land lines aren't enough.

Let's expand this and give out free cell phones.

Well I think that's going -- -- I don't think the federal government ought to be giving out free cellphones.

And what has happened.

Is some folks now are getting two in three.

Ten -- when he and thirty.

Cell phones in Europe paying for it if you look at your telephone bill you'll see a -- your cell phone bill.

In it says universal service fund universal service -- you are -- -- attack.

This goes toward an okay -- and I saw a report out of Atlanta from CBS on this.

I -- our report I think it was a fox affiliate in Baltimore on this they had a woman who had five or six phones that are person is that -- did you get that.

She's had about five or six minutes to acquire all of those -- you make it bigger point and all of us.

And you're suggesting that if we cannot change this program what can we change is a government.

I think this ought to be low hanging fruit this is easy.

The this is that this is a situation again we're not talking about a hundred million here or a hundred million there we are talking about eight billion.

Dollars the president is right around talking about the Buffett rule which would have almost no impact on the deficit and bring in five billion a year.

Here's a billion that we can cut -- -- -- Because I don't think that we ought to be paying for people who have very we always say it's easy do you think Washington can get this done.

Well -- what does -- say about how government works today -- -- let me let me clarify it ought to be easy I think if you if you go out -- -- Washington and talk to.

Americans in my district and elsewhere they are outraged by this outraged and here's the deal.

Folks are giving like basic cell phones.

Getting iphones.

They're getting blackberries.

Are getting stuff that you and I.

Or pay a lot every month -- they're getting tens and when he it's a great country isn't it.

It's it's it's we got to stop remarkable -- we have to cannot mention we -- -- those.

If you go to FaceBook dot com slash rap REP.

Rep Tim Griffin.

We have videos and you -- -- now you -- more reliable well we'll check it out there thank you for sharing the story with -- receive your bill gets any traction in a great for the Republican from Arkansas --

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