Food stamp recipients making tough choices after cuts

[theHandpuppet]

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/04/19/food-stamp-recipients-making-tough-choices-cuts/7928895/

The Cincinnati Enquirer
Food stamp recipients making tough choices after cuts
By Lisa Bernard-Kuhn and Cindy Schroeder
April 20, 2014

In Colerain Township, Sarah Singley has less than $60 to feed herself and her two children for the rest of the month.

In Newport, Amanda Collins' electricity was turned back on last week – her monthly budget stretched too thin in recent months to cover costly winter heating bills and put enough food on the table for the family of six.

Across the region, thousands more struggling families are turning to food pantries as the fallout of recent cuts to food stamp benefits takes hold...

... Nationally, recipients of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) saw a 5.5 percent cut in benefits in November. It's considered the largest cut to the program since Congress adopted the Food Stamp Act in 1964.... MORE

[randys1]

1. This is maddening, this makes me furious

I want to know when everybody else is furious, wake me up when you are.

Tens of millions of us MUST do something, not sure what, but be sure of this, if we let this continue, we will lose everything.

[theHandpuppet]

2. Compounding the problem is the increase in food prices

(excerpt)

Compounding the problem is the rise in food costs in recent months, Reiber said. In the last four years, the cost of ground beef has risen 35 percent per pound, and chicken and turkey prices have increased more than 20 percent, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Combined with the cuts, "the net effect means groceries that used to cost $100 in November now cost about $130," said Reiber. "A 30 percent increase in food for any family's budget is dramatic."

[n2doc]

3. What? You mean those lazy bums would rather starve than work?

You will never see the repubs ever ever admit that maybe they were wrong about 'incentivizing' people by taking the safety net away.