Quote:Here's the dire consequences that you missed:
I didn't 'miss it'. And it clearly doesn't invalidate my observation of the ridiculous Republican predictions about job creation and unemployment..
Did you miss in your graph when the SNAP participation 'bars' started to rise in '03?
I wish that Wal-Mart paid well enough, as well as other low-wage employers, so that heir employees didn't qualify for SNAP.
Why are we subsidizing those companies?!
[url http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-blumentha...34924.html [/url]
Quote:(10) Myth: President Obama is the "Food Stamp President," because more people are on SNAP during his administration than any other administration.
Truth: While President Obama has been called the "Food Stamp President" by some of his opponents during this election season, the characterization is inaccurate.
USDA data from January 2001 indicate that during the Administration of President George W. Bush, the number of SNAP recipients rose by 14.7 million people. President Clinton in 1998 and President Bush in 2002 expanded SNAP eligibility as well. During their Administrations, reforms were enacted that permitted for more children, disabled individuals, seniors and some immigrants to receive food stamps.
During President Obama's Administration, enrollment has increased by 14.2 million people -- a lower number than during President Bush's tenure. This is due to the ongoing economic recession, which caused rates of food insecurity in 2009 to reach the highest levels since 1998. There is some indication that SNAP enrollment levels and rates of food insecurity are beginning to decrease.
In October 2011, when the economy started to improve, SNAP enrollment declined by 43,528 individuals and from 2009 to 2010, food insecurity dropped from 21.3 percent to 20.2 percent in households with children.
Therefore, while it is true that current SNAP enrollment is at a historical high with more than 46 million people in the program, it is incorrect to characterize President Obama as the "Food Stamp President." Instead, the current increased enrollment reflects the high unemployment rates during the current economic recession, the temporary increase in eligibility for families, and the countercyclical design of the program.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (The Stimulus Act) did expand eligibility for SNAP by removing a three-month time limit on food stamp participation for unemployed adults without children. However, this change was meant to last only during the years 2009 and 2010.
Nonetheless, 46 states have obtained special waivers to sustain the new rule because of high unemployment rates. The stimulus legislation also increased average benefit amounts for all program participants; however, this increase will expire in 2013.
