Reply #39: No it doesn't.

[JamesA1102]

Over the last two years. Yes, under the Bush administration in 2008, when the recession had already been in place for a year, total expenditures on food stamps (SNAP program) was $37,645,000. For fiscal year 2010, spending has been $68,180,000, nearly double previous spending. This was done under the stimulus package because of the recession and steep rises in unemployment, all caused by the previous administration's policies.

Yes, we're spending more than $31 billion more on food stamps today because of President Obama and the Democrats, and these higher levels will remain in place until late 2013 and 2014 -- two more years. Then, a small portion, $2 billion, will be redirected into funds for children living in poverty who receive breakfast and lunch for free every day. It will expand the number of children eligible and raise the nutritional standards for these meals.

Yet the hatred here is so deep, and the knowledge level so shallow, that this new bill, which will aid the poorest of poor children, is being used as a cudgel. I realize that real facts never prevail over grandstanding and charlatanism, but if you want to see facts and figures on government spending on nutrition assistance programs, you can read them yourself here:

http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/annual.htm