Congress Mulls Cuts to Food Stamps Program Amid Record Number of Recipients

[The Northerner]

ABC News' Huma Khan reports: Congress is under pressure to cut the rapidly rising costs of the federal government’s food stamps program at a time when a record number of Americans are relying on it.

The House Appropriations Committee today will review the fiscal year 2012 appropriations bill for the Department of Agriculture that includes $71 billion for the agency’s “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.” That’s $2 billion less than what President Obama requested but a 9 percent increase from 2011, which, critics say, is too large given the sizeable budget deficit.

A record number of Americans -- about 14 percent -- now rely on the federal government’s food stamps program and its rapid expansion in recent years has become a politically explosive topic.

More than 44.5 million Americans received SNAP benefits in March, an 11 percent increase from one year ago and nearly 61 percent higher than the same time four years ago.

Read more: http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/05/congress-mulls-cuts-to-food-stamps-program-amid-record-number-of-recipients.html

[DJ13]

1. A headline I wish was real

ABC News' Huma Khan reports: Congress is under pressure to cut the rapidly rising costs of the federal government’s tax cuts for the wealthy at a time when a record number of wealthy Americans are taking advantage of it.

[femrap]

2. Here it comes.....

the Sadistic repugnants are ready to starve some citizens....It will get much worse.

But let's keep the wars going!

[spanone]

3. so many need it, so they are going to cut it? sounds ass backwards to me

[NightWatcher]

4. Eat the rich! or tax the shit out of them

their choice

[Buns_of_Fire]

6. But must it be an either/or choice? nt

[Spinny Liberal]

5. I have an idea

How about dumping to useless wars so our people can eat? They'll win Americans' "hearts and minds."

[Mrs. Ted Nancy]

7. Food stamps stimulate the economy

They said the last election was about "jobs jobs jobs" They meant to say "let's kill jobs jobs jobs".

[Bandit]

8. Republicans just say "Let them eat cake"

Not only will it hurt those desperate in need but it will hurt all the stores they shop at with those stamps...Talk about economic pain.. We are about to see it... "Big Time"

[eilen]

9. They won't be happy till we are all dead. nt