Patti's Blog - Advocate for Elders, People with Disabilities and Their Families

Can Expanding Food Stamps Jolt The Economy?

Patti's Comments:  Please let me know if you folks experience problems with food stamps.

Excerpt from NPR:  (click for entire article)

The federal food stamp program is being beefed up in hopes that it will help jolt the sagging economy back to life. However, economists are conflicted over how big an impact this increase will ultimately have.

The government is spending $20 billion to expand the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, by about 13 percent. For Charmaine McCauley, a single mother of two in suburban Atlanta, this increase translates into an extra $45 a month.

"You know, just the staple stuff you need like bread, milk, cheese, eggs — those little things. That little extra can help with that," McCauley said.

McCauley had been doing well as a mortgage broker, but after the recession hit, she lost her job and her $680,000 home. About six months ago, she started receiving food stamps.

Amid the recession, 4.8 million additional people have sought out food stamp assistance. In February 2008, 27.7 million people nationwide were receiving food stamps, compared to 32.5 million people 12 months later.

McCauley now sells Mary Kay cosmetics full time, but she says the food stamps give her the extra help she needs to keep the refrigerator stocked for her family. "It's definitely something that has helped our family," said McCauley. "A lot."

States Coached on Effective Stimulus Spending

Patti's Comments: I find it really hard to believe the states need coaching on this… hopefully they can use the stimulus money as Medicaid match money. Does anyone know if they can???
 
From NPR: (click for entire article and link to interview)

Senior officials in charge of spending their state's share of the economic stimulus will be at the White House Thursday for a summit on how to spend that money effectively. Timothy Gilchrist will represent New York. He talks with Steve Inskeep about being in charge of parceling out four billion dollars for infrastructure projects.