Whatever happened to Food Stamps?

George Bush's administration didn't invent "politically correct," but they certainly grew the obfuscation component of political language. Food Stamps are now (as of Oct. 1, 2008), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). However, we have the Obama presidential campaign and the loyal Democrat opposition for 8 years to thank for the myth that those mean old Republicans didn't care about poor people when in fact they were throwing money at social programs. A young woman I know who rejoiced in Obama's election and attended the swearing in said, "finally the money will go where it's needed." USDA's food assistance programs totaled $60.7 billion in fiscal 2008, 11 percent more than in the previous fiscal year-the largest percentage increase in 16 years. By cutting taxes early in his first term, Bush freed up money for investment and actually brought into the federal coffers more money than it had ever had--so Congress went a little crazy spending it. Obama plans to discourage investment with higher taxes and increased green regulations, but expand and increase government spending even beyond what Bush did. Guess who gets that bill?

What I've listed below (policy, legislation and regulations for food programs) is just a tiny fraction of what went to the low income and poor. Not for hunger, of course, but for "food insecurity." Not for hunger, but for farmers markets and obesity and nutrition workshops (I watched a training video on how to convert commodities to paper work for pizza--I kid you not). Not for hunger, but to keep huge agricultural interests afloat.** But first you send your taxes to be filtered through thousands of federal, state and local agencies to pay the bi-partisan "peace and justice" salaries, build the government buildings, pay their utilities, hire the PR people promoting the programs, change all the lines in the millions of published documents from food stamps to SNAP, and line the pockets of the various pols we voted in to bring home the federal dollars.

Legislation
School Meals Programs
Child and Adult Care Food Program
Summer Food Service Program
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Food Distribution Program
Women, Infants and Children

Regulations
School Meals Programs
Child and Adult Care Food Program
Summer Food Service Program
Supplemental Nutrition Asssitance Program
Food Distribution Program
Women, Infants and Children
Farmers Market Nutrition Program

Policy
School Meals
Child and Adult Care Food Program
Summer Food Service Program
Food Distribution Policy Database
Charitable Institutions & Summer Camps
Commodity Supplemental Food Program
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
Nutrition Services Incentive Program
Processing Policies
Schools/Child Nutrition Institutions
The Emergency Food Assistance Program

Here in Ohio we have a "model" program (Ohio Benefit Bank) for linking Ohioans to federal benefits, and it was able to access (for a fee) almost $39 million additional dollars that weren't being used by eligible Ohioans, so imagine how much actually did go into the hands of the poor. That $39 million dollars provides extra dollars for Ohio's economy, and actually creates some local tax revenue, because locally spent money for food, medical services, fuel, and tax credits helps fuel Ohio's economy and keep Gov. Strickland's coffers full. It's important, however, to remember that it is robbing Peter Taxpayer to pay Paul Taxpayer. A taxpayer with a family of 6 is eligible for various food programs plus other services (like housing, medical, heating, education) with an income of $56,000. He's probably not paying federal taxes, but he is paying FICA and state taxes, plus a huge chunk for federal gasoline taxes and federal cigarette taxes.

Because of "public partnerships," non-profits and faith based organizations (i.e. churches) have become dependent on our tax dollar to fund their charitable activities and salaries. Second Harvest in Ohio began in 1999 as an organization (funded by the Ohio Dept. of Job and Family Services) to distribute surplus Ohio crops like apples, but now needs almost $3 million a year to run its organization for food distribution to a variety of smaller food banks.

Food programs never decrease in size, although they may get renamed and reconfigured--in fact, they actually grow during times of low unemployment and a robust economy because there is more tax money. USDA had money in the low income mortgage market. Job programs get food money, as do schools. To try to track these programs would be like untangling a plate of spaghetti from garden of weeds.

**This began under FDR to keep farmers afloat at a time when a much larger percentage of the population was rural and has grown with every administration regardless of party.