The Virginian-Pilot
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Food stamp benefits are about to increase a little more than 13 percent because of increased federal funding, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced today.
The maximum monthly allotment for a family of four will increase $80, effective April 1, the governor announced in a news release. The name of the food stamp program also will change to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP.
The increase in benefits will depend on the number of people in a household and the amount of income, the release says.
Participants in the program don’t need to do anything to receive the increase, the release says.
The requirements for the food that is purchases will remain the same. Foods and other items that are excluded from the program will continue to be excluded.
The funding is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, often referred to as the stimulus package.
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WE NEED FOOD STAMP REFORM ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Maybe so many people wont be apt to run to Social Services and get food stamps if they cant buy JUNK FOOD! And Mrs. Obama wants to make a nutrional difference in childrens lives by re-vamping School nutrition - She should change the Food Stamp policy - NO SODA, NO HIGH SUGAR CEREALS, NO CANDY, NO POTAOE CHIPs, NO COOKIES. - MAKE it just like WICK - BREAD, CHEESE, MILK, VEGETABLES, MEATS <---- ANYTHING healthy. It would be very simple. BEFORE they ring up the groceries - hand over the Food Stamp Card. Have the UPC's from Keebler, Mars, Pepsi, Coke, Lays, BLOCKED from purchase. SIMPLE!! And will FIX a major loop hole. Make healthier kids. PLEASE someone who can MAKE this happen - Take notice - SEND this idea to your legislators LIKE I HAVE!!!!!
uh huh...
"Lately I have been seeing people who are blatantly struggling, and I can tell you, they are not buying steak and lobsters."
that's a fact....you're seeing us working stiff taxpayers.
I agree with beandaddy
There should be further restrictions put onto what can be purchased with food stamp allotments, and I say that as someone who is currently getting them. For example, except for juice concentrates and vegetables, items in the frozen food aisle should not be permitted.
I also think a class on budgetting and cooking should be required for recipients.
How is this stimulating the economy
I do not want to see anyone starve. I have done service at the OASIS in Portsmouth and my wife contribute whenever we can. Furthmore, I have given vegetables from my garden to the food bank. I also realize that food has not gotten any cheaper in the past few years. The thing that gets me is this was part of the so called stimulus package that was supposed to help creat jobs and get the economy rolling. Instead, what was passed in the dark of night with no chance for debate or even the time to read the whole bill is the expansion of social programs like this. In many respects I consider this to be misleading to think that the billions spent would be solely to kick start the economy. If the food stamp program needs extra money it should have been done separately and openly justified to the American People instead of covertly put in a emergency bill with no debate. This is just the thing that our new President and the Democrats said they would not do and now I see them doing it. I guess there is little if any difference between the parties in this regard.
Change in your face
GM CEO - Canned. Foodstamps increased. I like it. I love it. Be afraid. Yes, be very afraid. You are next. We are coming after your greedy, so ignorant you can't see what's good, selves next. But in an attempt to help ease your fear, try this on for size. STOP thinking of yourself so much. It's not about you!!! You're not on Foodstamps? Good for you. You are blessed. Most of the junk posted here is referring to a small portion of all the folks that are going to bed hungry, just to make sure their children get the ramon noodles. You are sooo high and mighty. Hoity toity people. Well, here is change. As for backlashing comments, bring'em on. I've said my peace and won't be checking back to hear the "what about me" comments. You sniveling pack of majority. Your time has come. MM MM Hm Hm Ha Ha Ha Ha
This would make too much sense, but..
The food stamp program should be similiar to WIC. There should be vouchers instead of a free for all on what people can get. For instance, there can be a voucher allowing x pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, etc. Also x amount of staple foods like rice, beans, condiments, flour, sugar. Candy, cookies, chips, soda, ice should not be allowed or a certain amount can be authorized. MAYBE that will help people make better food choices if they can't get junk and processed foods for free. I get WIC and I am restricted to generic store brand cereal and frozen apple, orange, grapefruit concentrate, etc. I am not complaining because the food does help my family. I know some would chastise me for daring to say the government should tell them what they can get with their food stamps, but if it is taxpayer subsidized, then yes, there should be more of a restriction of how they use it.
Food Stamp Program
I worked as cashier years ago. I saw the abuse from many, not all. Today spending my $25 (what can I get with this amount?!) for groceries I am very angry seeing the overloaded carts of absolute junk food - chips, dips, 'happy time' cereals chock full of sugars, sodas, candies, quick meals etc ad nauseum. Hell, no wonder we have a country of 'beyond obese' people! I wrote Obama that there needs to be restructuring of this program: all non-nutritious junk needs to be disallowed.
20 years ago while shopping I swiped a sign from the local supermarket that read:" Do You Know You Can Buy Russell Stover's With Your Food Stamps". Livid? Not the correct emotion! I was so disgusted that I felt like raising the roof with my anger at that very moment and decided to swipe it intending to mail it to our government!(To think the grocers are promoting this terrible abuse! Of course! This is more money for them.) Would it have caused any action? I doubt it! In these ensuing years, nothing has changed with FS rulings.
In past years going into these quick marts, I stand watching those who have JUNK, one item at a time, paying for it with one food stamp. Next item up - one food stamp...nex
Robert A
First of all calm down. Second of all, good for you and your success in life. I too am from humble means and am now a modest success. Finally, much of what you wrote (twice?) was a tangential rant that had very little to do with what I wrote. I'm not going to trade insults or all caps with you, I'll simply say that you are misguided and mistaken in both my intent and how the universe works. To paraphrase your little rant you are simply spewing a bunch of populist nonsense.
I do have one question for you. You say something like "anyone" can be rich (whatever that means) do you also think everyone could be rich? Easy on the insults unless you want the favor returned. This question goes precisely to my original point.
FletcherPratt, your comments are
a bunch of Marxist nonsense. A person's ability to succeed is based almost ENTIRELY on THEM. I had a horrible upbringing. Trailer parks, abuse, any number of things. I resisted the temptation of drug and alcohol abuse, I never smoked, and I didn't become a criminal. Now I have my second career, and a productive (but not wealthy) life, while I've watched a number of family members take handouts. I don't resent rich people, and I don't really want to be rich. You are entitled to your opinion, but the "product of your environment" argument just won't wash. And if you can't make it in THIS country, you are truly worthless. The difference between people who think as you do, and people who achieve on their own merit isn't in ability, or opportunity. We MAKE our opportunities. The difference is that instead of setting a positive example for people to follow, you just tell them who to blame for all their problems. It's not that some people CAN NOT succeed, it's that they WILL NOT.
Any system which involves
Any system which involves people and money is going to be prone to corruption. Welcome to the human condition. Certainly we should try to construct or reform these systems in ways which minimize this corruption. However, it seems pretty clear to me that the poor are an equally inevitable product of capitalism. Some folks must lose so others can win. The uncomfortable truth is that our success is in some ways funded on their backs. That is why we have a moral imperative to help the poor. While imperfect, food stamps are one way we do this. It's all shiny and nice that some of us never have and hopefully never will need this kind of assistance, but to deny it's necessity is pure folly at best and, as is demonstrated, ignorance at worst. Expressing feelings of superiority and contempt for the poor is an old foul habit. (I know, I know. You have reasons to feel contempt) People should get out if it.