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

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Conservative Byte

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.

Nearly 21 million households are reliant on food stamps.

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  • patriotdynamite

    I propose a cut in congressional salaries and salary of the unfortunate CEO, soetorobama as examples of belt tightening. Lead the way soetorobama and congress!!!!!!

    • Laura Deane Johnston

      This would be the best way to cut our budget in more than half… cut the salaries of all Congressional seat holders and while we are at it, set term limits for them. We set a limit on the number of terms for our president, why not Congress????? I’m just sayin’.

    • http://facebook Que Dub

      CUT ALL OF THE FOOD CARD $$$$$ TO ALL THE ILLEGALS NOWW!!!!! I MEAN NOW !!!!!!!!!! WE WOULD SAVE BILLIONS $$$$$$ !!!!!

      JUST LOOK WHAT THE ILLEGALS DID TO CALIFORNIA !!!!!
      BANKRUPTED THEM TO H3LL!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • http://facebook Que Dub

      I AGREE!!!! 50% CUT ACROSS THE BOARD !!!! GROUND AIR FORCE ONE NOW !!!!

    • jim

      I agree but while we’re at it cut the numbers of house Reps and Senate to half and stop funding for presidential library’s. how many people do you know that have visited a presidential library? Also stop funding for big butt Michelle and family’s secret service protection plus a million other things

  • http://None Ben F.

    Cut the department of Education, they don’t educate, they live on our dime. Get rid of the Department of Energy, who has never done anything, no aid to countries that hate us and if a country needs help, send food, water but, no money and no weapons. Make the House live by the same rules they inact for us. No retirement, get a job. Stop the great amounts of money they spend to earn a life time job as dictators over the masses. Cut their staffs and make those remaining work for what the private sector does. No more money for research that isn’t needed and don’t make sense. Close down to the government until they learn they work for us.

    • Jason

      I Agree, let’s cut unnecessary programs across the board.

    • http://Yahoo Daisey

      I agree Ben, but take it a step further, ELIMINATE the Dept. Of Education. It costs the American tax payer more annually, than what all the teachers are paid in the U.S. Eliminate the Dept. Of Energy also, and each year, when the children go back to school, cut the Food stamp allotments down, cause when the kids are in school, they’re already getting 2 free meals a day there. They don’t need the same amount of Food Stamp funds during the school year, and many receive free meals also over the summer. If one is receiving WIC, then it should be cut off if they’re also receiving food stamp cards. We need to also get rid of this end of the year “INCOME TAX AVERAGING”. If one didn’t pay ANY income taxes in, they shouldn’t receive ANYTHING BACK. While most Americans get a $3000. tax deduction per child, if one adopts a child, they get a $13,000. tax deduction per child, all school meals are free, free medical the rest of their lives, and the child gets all their college paid for by the tax payer. I saw a video on a family with 4 or 5 adopted children. This sorry government sent them a check for $54,000, they were big, fat, and over extended, and they paid “0″ in taxes. I don’t know what piece of garbage official pushed this through, but he/she should be executed and this entitlement also eliminated. And for those that don’t know, if one makes over $250,000. annually, they lose their child tax deduction, home mortgage deduction, and other deductions, on top of getting the privilege of paying a 35% tax rate. So this also discourages productivity. Why try to make more if one is penalized for it. :)

      • Jacqueline L.

        I worked for Sears where TAX REFUND checks were cashed. Long before the rest of us had rec’d out forms these “unemployed” were at the doors with checks for thousands of dollars. As security I had the pleasure of reusing a few for lack of up to date IDs or IDs that did not belong to the check casher! How is it a “refund” if they never paid anything in???????????

        • http://facebook Que Dub

          THAT ‘S SIMPLE , HAVE YOU HEARD OF “EARNED INCOME CREDIT”, 2 KIDS, ILLEGITIMATE, WORK A JUST LITTLE, AND THEY GET $6,000 FROM IRS!!!!! NOW BY GAUD !!! IT’S NOT A REFUND !!! IT’S ROBBING US TAX PAYERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Texas11

      Need to control the EPA freaks also as they have gotten out of control with their Liberal Agenda. I would cut them back dramatically also.

  • Jason

    They create unemployment where people must take food stamps to feed themselfs and family. Government over spends on budget through pointless wars and bailouts. Then wants to cut spending by cutting Medicare, Social Security and food stamps to hurt the masses. Here’s a thought, let’s cut unnecessary military bases across the world, Take the Federal Reserve to court for Extortion and counterfeiting through printing trillions unnecessary dollars for QE’s and bailouts, and then get out of the influence of the U.N. forces dictating policies in America on vitamins and supplements as well as Law Of The Sea Treaty or L.O.S.T. Then impeach Obama for High Crimes and Misdemeanors for declaring war without Congress and re-inacting the anti-American Patriot Act that legally he did not sign with his own hand, but a Autopen machine. ( Article 1 Section 7 of the Constitution, which says that the president must sign a bill to approve it into law.”Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it,” )
    And Congress should be punished for being Jellyfish over everything else.
    I feel much better now. :-/

  • DOROTHY

    lots of people are getting food stamps and anything free some don’t want to work

  • 57 girl

    Like they say, A Government big enough to give you everything you need/want is big enough to take it all away. I love the way, our Representatives keep the wars going, ignore our borders, and vote themselves pay raises, yet as the price of food goes up due to inflation, they are going to cut food stamps. Typical. I don’t get food stamps myself, but I’m sure there are a lot of people that really need them living on fixed incomes that will suffer because our Government would rather dole out foreign aid than solve problems at home. Oh well, at least Nancy is not flying across country weekly, stocked with a full bar on the tax payer dime. I wonder if she still has that $18,000.00/month condo? And sadly, that’s just one pathetic example of a cut that could be made rather than taking food out of the mouths of babies and our elderly. Anyone in between (that’s not mentally or physically disabled can fend for themselves).

  • Sonja

    THIS IS HORRIBLE IF CONGRESS DOES THIS. OMG, PEOPLE ARE OUT OF WORK, THEY HAVE NO MONIES TO PAY FOR FOOD FOR THEIR CHILDREN ETC. THEY BETTER NOT DO THIS, IF THEY WANT TO CUT, THEY NEED TO “STOP” GIVING THE ILLEGALS FOOD STAMPS, FREE MEDICAL, FREE HOUSING, FREE DENTAL FOR THEIR CHILDREN, FREE EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN, ETC. ETC. THAT COST IS WHAT IS MAKING ENTITLEMENTS LOOK SO HIGH, THAT IS NOT JUST TO INCLUDE WHAT IS GIVEN TO THE ILLEGALS. THE MORE CHILDREN THEY HAVE THE HIGHER AMOUNTS THEY GET IN FREE BENEFITS AT TAXPAYERS EXPENSE. STOP GIVING TO THE ILLEGALS. The “county” of Los Angeles reported in one year the illegals were given a total of over $600 million in FREE BENEFITS, that is ONE COUNTY. CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT ALL THE COUNTIES THROUGH OUT ALL OUR STATES PAYS OUT TO THE ILLEGALS. WHY HASN’T CONGRESS PUT A STOP TO THIS, NOT STOPPING OUR LEGAL CITIZENS THAT ARE OUT OF WORK TO RECEIVE THEM, STOP GIVING TO THE ILLEGALS.

    • bev

      Sonja they have not stopped it because it is the plan to bankrupt this country…and is also the plan to keep these people on assistance for VOTES!! Pure and simple. I have needed help more times than I care to count. I WILL NOT RECEIVE A DIME in assistance from the government. When I do work…it is like dealing with a rabid dog over what monies I am to pay to them. If people did more praying…assuming they know what to pray…God would put a stop to this madness. Problem is, people don’t know what is right and what is wrong. I have know since a kid that if I can’t get a job…I create my own job. Nuff said.

    • PrincessPhilly

      Congress will cut food stamps so we get poorer. Americans won’t do anything about it since Americans have no balls to kick out the whole Congress and the asshole in the white house. They get what they deserve to be homeless and hungry on the streets.

      • Jacqueline L.

        What would happen if, instead of voting for someone who turns on you after election, everyone stayed home on Election Day. I mean everyone stays at home, calls in sick, does not go to work or the polls. Make our Election Day our “Day of Rage” without the crowds or violence.

  • http://None Ben F.

    Those out of work should open their eyes and get rid of the problem, lefty represenatives who want them to be slaves.

    • bev

      Ben…it is like knowing what to pray. People don’t know that the left is not what is good for them.

  • Jeane

    Congress mulls cuts…that will be the day! If they were serious…they would shut the Education Department down. The federal government has no business in education. Lock the doors on the Energy Department. They are a drain for taxpayer monies. Blow up the EPA…they are nothing more than a mouth piece for left wing nut cases and Obama…killing business through Regulations. These three departments are bout as useless as tits on a boar hog. And three of the major dollar drainers!!

    • Jacqueline L.

      Go to a Flat Tax with no exemptions for anyone. We can eliminate most of the IRS. Demand all of Congress be present at the Capital at least 330 days each year.They do not need to fly home several times a year we can reach them by phone or email. They would then not need half the staff now used to “keep them up on what is taking place”. They would know.

  • JUD

    If you came to American illegally, includes anchor babies (parents born someplace else) you should not be able to get any welfare, food stamps medical care, housing. PERIOD.

    • Jason

      That is what makes me mad. If your born here you get nothing, but if your illegal you get everything. What’s up with that? It should be American born of the U.S. that get these benifits if the government is giving them out.

    • Whistle64

      The Ni$$ers are jealous of the illegal mexicans!

  • kategray

    Obama is breaking the back of the hard working people of America. He needs to be stopped. Obama does not know how to be responsible. Just the right person Soros would pick.

  • emerson

    these so-called “food” stamp programs don’t need to be cut, they need to be halted and investigated for fraud when recipients are using these “credit cards” for everything but food. there is so much waste and abuse in all these programs and the children who are supposed to benefit from them are left out when parents are going on vacations, casinos and partying instead of providing for their children with tax payer money. now with so many people out of work, many regular families are doing without essentials to support these programs.

    • The Blue Collar Man

      Easy to fix these “Free” programs, all of them.

      You have to prove you are an American Citizen.

      2nd generation applicants will have a slight reduction, say 20%, and 3rd generations will be cut 40%. All cuts applied to all categorys that make up the amounts of money received. Additional cuts also applied to familys/children who don’t stay in school.

      You have to pass a Drug Test.

      All Illegals will be deported, to open up jobs for less educated people, so they can get some work to supplement reduced benefits.

      Will cost a Millions to implement, at first, but will save Billions every year. Large drop in crime possible, as if you are working, you can’t be out night and day, running the streets.
      If the children stay in school, they might learn something, and aren’t on the streets making trouble.

  • Jacqueline L.

    Cutting food stamps cost is simple! First confirm applicant is a legal citizen. Next, confirm income sources. If a women is applying for herself and kids and a review shows a man in residence they should be booted from program. Then, enforce rules restricting stamp purchases to basic foods. If alcohol or tobacco products are being purchased at any time during transaction the stamps should be rejected. If they can afford alcohol and tobacco they can afford their own food.
    I, like many others paying their own way, have stood behind or alongside stamp users abusing these rules. Have followed them out to late model, expensive cars. It is sickening!

  • http://optium sam giordano

    this food stamp thing was all about votes

  • http://Yahoo.com Larry Smith

    I totally agree with some posters with reference to Policing Fraud, Confirming Citizenship, and Making sure the recipients are authorized to receive the assistance, hence men laying up with women and not contributing. If any of these violations are found, Indict for the criminal offenses and discontinue for all others. Including all businesses that allow food stamps to be used for unauthorized purchases. This is where all the actual increases are happening. Not the good US Citizens that really need the assistance. I personally know of one case where the elderly woman worked all her life, a born here US citizen, is wheel chair bound, in her 70′s age wise, on SS disability, and receives EIGHTEEN DOLLARS per MONTH in food stamps assistance.

    • http://none Elaine

      AGREED! Am 75+1/2, worked ALL life, even put hubby thru advanced degrees, got low pay for high-responsibility and titled hard jobs, as a woman. Supported self from 16 onward…no alimony! Served civic, civil rights, homeless and other causes with hard work also. Now Soc Sec has been frozen twice, third time now…and with reconstructed lumbar back, Stage 4 kidney failure (near dialysis) and now NEW heart trouble causing fainting and tests still being run (and I pay 20% of huge med bills on Medicare!!), I had to run thru hoops to get just $16/mo. food stamps when desperate to keep roof over head after Jan. 1 without miracle before then! Yet I see a lottery bigtime winner on TV news who’s still getting food stamps & bragging about it…AS ALSO is Obama’s ILLEGAL AUNT in NYC who says she’s been fully supported in “neat” apt. bldg. and welfare & ALL benefits for over 20 yrs. now, and “America gives it and it is my due!” WHY are such people able to “milk” the system while those of us who worked so hard left in this situation??? Get rid of illegals and fakers, high-paid govt. workers, and trim govt. expenditures. (Just today learned on TV Michelle just announced on her health-diet “kick” they spent $2M taxpayer $$ for “new” style of design of “food pyramid.” UNREAL policies and people at our helm. We need to keep fighting…..please come quickly 2012!!! ANYONE would be an improvement!!!!

  • E.B. Myers

    I wonder what the hell folks did 100 years ago?

    No food stamps
    No Wick
    No social security
    very little government
    ” Everything” wasn’t taxed
    You could start a business with few or no regulations
    Few if any homeless
    The US didn’t support the rest of the world
    On and on and on. Yes life was hard, but was it really harder than today.

  • I lean

    A lot of people on food stamps really need help and deserve it. Cut foreign spending and help these people. Other people on food stamps are taking you, me and the government. When I see the person before me in line at the grocery store with hair professionally done, nails long and professionally done wearing expensive clothes using food stamps, this really makes me mad. I use coupons, shop the bargains and grow a garden. If their kids get fed in school, their food stamp allotment should be cut accordingly.

  • gleneb

    I have read all the comments, and you are all–Right on. However; the government must be willing to slash these programs for all the non needy and the Illegals.
    I think it is again time to (Sorry) vote out obummer, and go republican (Sorry) again.

  • AutumnGal

    Threatening the most vurnable is what the socialist and democrats in this senate does best and “o” is the leader of the clowns. Spending tax payers $$$$$ is off the charts. If there was no Social Security, Medicare and Food Stamps programs, what IN the world would they use to threaten those vurnable individuals?????

  • julie

    cut dhhr programs all together, we are all given the same chance here in usa why reward bad behaviour, laziness,being unwed teen mom,ex felon,illegal farm worker(they have so many programs)quit letting foreigners go to college free,…..common sense but are government wants to dip into my parents social security (worked since they were both 17). someone with a brain needs to get in charge! are leaders are retarded spoiled brats that were not among working class they all had silver spoons shoved up their rears!

  • Anne

    I don’t know what is wrong with people! Why cut SS, Medicare, and food stamps? If they do, there are going to be people losing their homes, and unable to feed their children! I agree, the solution is requiring US citizenship, and a drug test to be eligible for food stamps and other benefits. Don’t take them from people who need them! We all know, however, that they are not going to cut off benefits from illegals. So why not tax the rich? It would be a drop in the bucket to them! The only way it will hurt them is they will have to buy a smaller mansion, or smaller yacht! Or they may have to just take 1 less vacation a year!

    There are people out there who actually need the benefits, who are NOT alcoholics and drug addicts! The rich like to make theirselves look good by giving to their favorite charity every year, but in reality, they care NOTHING about poor people! Not enough to buy a smaller yacht anyway! Doesn’t anyone see the difference here? Homeless versus smaller yacht!!!

    • Texas11

      Anne,

      You are obviously a Democrat who has been brainwashed to think Rich = Bad. If you actually look at the facts, the rich pay a large portion of the taxes collected. Why demonize people who are successful? Jealous? The answer is not to take from the rich to give to the poor.

      “Redistribution of Wealth’ is for Socialist/Marxist countries……..not the USA.

  • Texas11

    Cut out the fraud and you would probably cut expenses by half. Also, when is the limit? How long are we supposed to allow someone to live off the government? If you looked at the timeframe people have been receiving, would be ridiculous to most people. It was meant to be temporary at best – not lifelong. We all know the majority have no desire to work. Show up at their door and offer them a job, see what they say?

  • Florida

    Cut Congress’ pay by 75% per person. They regulate their own pay. Cut the foreign spending too. To think our families are going to go hungry so that Congress can enjoy their luxuries? The rich just keep getting richer while everyone else goes without.

    Talk about greed, well there you have it. Congress thinks only of themselves. If it is possible to do away with Congress then everyone else might be able to survive. They don’t work anyway. I don’t believe they know the definition of true hard work.