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 -- three 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.
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 People should consider the full picture on this issue, including recalling how the Republicans fought hard to block both this and the aid to states bill back in August, leaving the Democrats no choice to help teachers, Medicaid, and child nutrition by writing in future cuts in this program -- cuts that can be restored if in three to four years the increased need is still there. One should also consider that it was right-wing commentators like Glenn Beck who pushed the "Democrats cutting food stamps" meme.
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