food stamps
Food stamps are vouchers or electronic benefit transfer cards that are part of the the US federal government program currently known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Their purpose is to help alleviate hunger in low and no-income American families, by supplementing their food budgets, while also providing a market for farm surpluses that would otherwise be considered a waste. This program is administered by the Food and Nutrition Service, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture.
The first Food Stamp Act was issued in 1939, at the initiative of the US Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace, and it lasted until 1943, when food surpluses and widespread unemployment were no longer considered a national problem. 18 years later, in May 1961, a second food stamp program was enacted, and Mr. and Mrs. Alderson Muncy from West Virginia were the first family to purchase food using food stamps for their 15 member household. This initial transaction occurred at a local supermarket and consisted of pork and beans.
The year 1964 saw the provision of permanent legislative authority to the Food Stamp Program, providing $75 million to roughly 350,000 individuals in over 40 counties. In July 1974, the program began operating nationwide, with nearly 14 million participants. Food stamps saw further expansion during the second half of the 80s, as domestic hunger and unemployment were once again at the center of political and media attention. The most important changes consisted in an increase in the resource limit for most households to approximately $2000, the provision of nutrition education to affected families, as well as the inclusion of homeless individuals. By 1994, the number of participants in the Food Stamp Program had reached 28 million.
While nowadays, the program uses electronic cards, for the most part of its history, paper denominational coupons (or stamps) were in fact used. Their values recognizable by their color - brown coupons were worth $1, blue coupons were worth $5, and green coupons were worth $10. Food stamps can be used in most supermarkets to purchase any kind of take-out food, including cold sandwiches, and pre-packed goods, such as soft drinks and sweets. Baby formulas and foods from catering services supplying disabled individuals can also be purchased on food stamps, however they cannot be used to buy household maintenance products or other objects.
You'll find bloggers talking about food stamps at sites like oregon.gov and dss.louisiana.gov.
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Original Technorati articles tagged “food stamps”
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American Children are Starving While Washington Debates 'Shared Sacrifice'
Children are starving while American politicians debate whether social services can take more cuts.by odanu / on Jul 28, 2011 -
in LifestyleFood Stamps for Fast Food?
Using food stamps in restaurants would be a blessing and a curseby charice22 / on Jun 10, 2011 -
Foster Kids Only Allowed to Get Clothing From Thrift Stores? A Poor Mom's Reaction
Foster Kids = Used clothes?by mamasick / on Apr 27, 2011
Latest blogosphere posts tagged “food stamps”
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State of the Union
Where's the Outrage? —
Authority: 117
For those of you who missed the State of the Union address, I got it for you. A few facts about the SOTU : • Since the last SOTU, the economy has created 1.9 million private sector jobs . [ Source ] • The top 1 percent take home 24 percent of the nation’s income , up from about 9 percent in 1976. [ ...3 days ago -
Cartoon Of The Day
Evaluation —
Authority: 126
[IMG: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NrPiV0VzPeU/Txv2Drvoz7I/AAAAAAAAHjc/YCBVNxZa9ZE/s640/mrz011912dAPC20120118104515.jpg]4 days ago -
Barack Obama Is the Food Stamp President
Pajamas Media —
Authority: 122
Saying so is factual, and certainly not racist.4 days ago -
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in Florida
Under the Mountain Bunker & Coffee Shop —
Authority: 132
Source: Nate Silver Checking in on Florida’s family values (not much different than South Carolina’s, apparently): Fact check: Gingrich’s faulty food-stamp claim : Newt Gingrich claims that “more people have been put on food stamps by Barack Obama than any president in American history.” He’s ...5 days ago -
Gingrich embodies intolerant, angry vision of Tea Party that is nationally unelectable
Western Progressive —
Authority: 129
Hell is freezing over for the Republican Party. They could end up nominating a candidate that is completely and utterly unelectable. Democrats could not fathom a more perfect opponent than Newt Gingrich -- even more perfect than Bachmann or Cain. Most independent voters remember Gingrich as maybe the most ...5 days ago -
Food-Stamp Growth by President
Matt Trivisonno's Blog —
Authority: 105
I have added two new charts to my food-stamps page showing the breakdown by presidential administrations (click to enlarge): Sorry Democrats, but last night on MSNBC, Al Sharpton said that more people were added to the food-stamps program by Bush 41 than by Obama, so I felt compelled to reply to that blatant lie. Of ...6 days ago -
Cascade’s School Choice Beginnings
Oregon Catalyst —
Authority: 116
January 22-28 is National School Choice Week Why is school choice such an important part of Cascade Policy Institute’s agenda? Partially, because it is the issue that got us started back in 1991. In 1990 a small group, including myself, … Continue reading →6 days ago -
Quotes of the day
Hot Air —
Authority: 800
Divisions. “For months, Mr. Gingrich has made racial resentment an integral part of his platform as a conservative challenger to Mitt Romney. He has traversed the country calling President Obama “the greatest food-stamp president in American history” and presenting African-Americans with the great revelation ...1 week ago -
Bob Beckel: Liberals Created A Dependent Society With Welfare
Conservative Daily News —
Authority: 589
We live in a world of “Gotcha Journalism” that greases its wheels with quotes like the one in this video. That is why I’m going to try to share it responsibly. Bob Beckel, the “resident Liberal” at Fox News, made a startling comment today on The Five. When briefly discussing entitlements, he said that ...1 week ago -
The Answer
BitsBlog —
Authority: 112
This may be the greatest debate answer in the history of presidential primary debates and the loudest standing ovation ever in any debate, video via Jill, Pundit & Pundette : Juan Williams, for whom I have some regard and respect, persisted in the most ill-fated attack since what July 3, 1863 . Williams ...1 week ago -
What’s Newt Gingrich’s View On Race?
Tai-Chi Policy —
Authority: 127
While Democrats are trying to slam him for calling Obama the “greatest food stamp president”, you can read for himself what he privately urged Reagan in 1980 . Filed under: Politics Tagged: Black Americans , Food Stamps , NAACP , Newt Gingrich , Race1 week ago -
EXCLUSIVE: 1980 Memo Shows Gingrich Urged Reagan to Reach Out to Black Voters
Big Government —
Authority: 770
With members of the mainstream media now hurling charges of using racially coded language against GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, Big Government has uncovered a private memorandum written over three decades ago that offers a unique glimpse into Mr. Gingrich’s longstanding attitudes about race.1 week ago -
Jesse Jackson Slams Newt Gingrich Over Food Stamps
Fork in the Road —
Authority: 583
And the food stamp fracas continues!Rev. Jesse Jackson has just blasted Newt Gingrich for his comments that Barack Obama is a "food stamp" president, and has come out against the Republican p1 week ago -
Jimmy Carter Tells Piers Morgan That Newt Gingrich ‘Has That Subtlety Of Racism’
Mediaite —
Authority: 820
In a preview of Wednesday’s Piers Morgan Tonight , former President Jimmy Carter surprised host Piers Morgan with his somewhat blunt (by mainstream media standards) assessment of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich . Speaking of Gingrich’s standing ovation moment at Monday night’s debate , President ...1 week ago -
Understanding The Eligibility Specifications For Food Stamps Benefits
Credit Repair Fix —
Authority: 112
Not too many people would have predicted a decade ago that the economy would be in the shape that it is in now, but the truth is that a lot of people are hurting right now. You might be having some thoughts or questions concerning how to apply for food stamps , or whether or not you meet the eligibility ...1 week ago -
Words Mean A Lot, Actions Speak Even Louder
Regaining the Center —
Authority: 108
Philadelphia is a large city with a famous past. America’s first large city, home of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and the site of America’s first zoo, among other firsts. Today it is a typical large city with a split personality. In today’s Philadelphia Inquirer, a story recounted ...1 week ago -
The White House Gives Newt Gingrich A Big “Ho Sit Down” For His Comments Regarding Barack Obama And Food Stamps
Bossip.com —
Authority: 664
Barack Obama’s folks at the White House aren’t feelin “Nasty Newt” and his accusations regarding food stamps and the Obama administration: The White House on Tuesday responded to criticism of its welfare policies, denouncing as “crazy” a suggestion by Newt Gingrich that President Obama has increased ...1 week ago -
Who Needs to Be Satisfied With a Check?
In One Ear... —
Authority: 107
So, recently, Newt Gingrich made the comment: And so I’m prepared if the NAACP invites me, I’ll go to their convention and talk about why the African American community should demand paychecks and not be satisfied with food stamps. Oh, zing. Now, it is interesting and says a lot about the mentality of ...1 week ago -
Economix Blog: Casey B. Mulligan: Testing for Need
NYT > Theater —
Authority: 866
Easier eligibility for some government programs for the needy has contributed to the rise in government spending, an economist writes.1 week ago -
Testing for Need
Economix —
Authority: 706
Easier eligibility for some government programs for the needy has contributed to the rise in government spending, an economist writes.1 week ago
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