Oregon Gov. Will Live On Food Stamp Diet

For One Week, As He Battles Proposed Cuts In Federal Program

(CBS/AP)  Oregon Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski and his wife, attorney Mary Oberst, have enough money to get by and meals are generally no problem.

But things will be different this week.

This is Hunger Awareness Week in Oregon, and for the next seven days, Kulongoski and Oberst will be cutting way back – down to the budget one would live on if relying on food stamps – a diet they hope others will also follow for a few days to better understand the plight of those who have no choice.

They'll spend just $3 a day apiece on their meals, $42 in all, to match the amount spent by the average food stamp recipient in Oregon.

"I'm gonna probably go back to what I remember in college, Top Ramen and hot dogs," said Kulongoski.

It won't be easy, but the less than bountiful fare is for a cause, reports CBS News correspondent Stephan Kaufman, as Kulongoski begins lobbying Congress against cuts in the food stamp program proposed by the Bush administration.

"The problem is we've just been reducing the money and the eligibility rolls of those who can get food stamps," said Kulongoski, who lived in a home for boys as a child and worked his way up, with a boost from the GI bill. "At the same time, those on food stamps are getting less."

The Oregon governor is also a strong advocate of school breakfast and lunch programs. "When the federal government cuts back on them," says Kulongoski, "you're actually depriving children of opportunity to basically have a healthy life and at the same time, to be able to learn while they're in school."

The Bush administration has proposed several cuts to the program, among them taking away food stamps from about 185,000 people who qualify only because they receive other non-cash government assistance. The Department of Agriculture budget, as proposed, would also eliminate a program that gives boxes of food to nearly half a million seniors each month.

The administration has proposed some changes hailed by hunger advocates, like excluding retirement savings from income limits, and setting aside money to encourage food stamp recipients to purchase more fresh produce.

[dallison7]

The Bush administration has proposed several cuts to the program, among them taking away food stamps from about 185,000 people who qualify only because they receive other non-cash government assistance. The Department of Agriculture budget, as proposed, would also eliminate a program that gives boxes of food to nearly half a million seniors each month.


THIS IS DISGUSTING!!

Republicans are truly the personification of evil on this plant. They love to say things like "He made the choice to be in that situation", when referring to the homeless or the poverty stricken. Nevermind that there are people who have no control of their lot in life.

How can it be more compassionate to spend billion$ on a war than to help care for our brothers and sisters who are hungry and sick? How can Bush call himself a 'Christian'?

Hell was built for republicans.

[trisporter]

Just another dumb political stunt but another dumb politician. It is apparent that ignorance is not held back by party affiliation. Food stamps are not meant to be a sole means of providing for ones dietary needs. Just like social security and every other completely flawed entitlement it was meant as a supplement. But it todays world of "it not my fault" and 'somebody owes me' mentality they treat all these welfare programs as a constiututional right. I love how the article refers to how these people living on food stamps "have no choice" The Christian Science Monitor reprted last week that the wall had finally been breached: 52% of 'so-called' Americans are receiving some type of handout from the government. We have become a modern day Roman Empire where those who can and do, are forced to provide for those who should but won't!

[mgpm-2009]

"How can it be more compassionate to spend billion$ on a war than to help care for our brothers and sisters who are hungry and sick? How can Bush call himself a 'Christian'?"
--dallison7

AMEN! I don't know. Honestly, they can be so tight with a buck when it comes to the poor but so loose with the purse strings when it comes to mowing down people somewhere else on the slimmest of pretenses. Talk about throwing money at a problem! And they so blindly keep supporting the war when it clearly is the worst failure in American history, besides Katrina.

I want to know why there wasn't a big 'ol news conference to announce the cuts to the food stamps program. Flippin' cowards. Taking food out of the American people's mouths to pay for his war machine. That's sickening.

[boondoggler7]

Bush is not a tax paying american. he is a tax taking american on the biggest ebt card in global history

[sharncedar]

"They love to say things like "He made the choice to be in that situation", "

Yep, this is their dishonest mantra. The constant statement is that th poor deserve to be poor, which of course implies the rich derserve to be rich. That's the real point of the elite oppressors, that somehow they earned ro deserved to take the lion's share of everything. From our persepective, they are dirty crooks, who have gained their ill-gotten gains through a willingness to do more evil than their fellow man. It's a lousy system that makes the burden of the porr so heavy, while wasting the fat of the land on ugly McMansions.

They make theor money through offshoring and importing cheap workers, then blame the people who can't find a job or hold a job at current wages and conditions.

[linfinster]

The FS program for, "Abled Bodied Adults Without Dependents" who have no medical reasons for not working are asked to do 24 hrs of community service to receive thier allotment each month, after the first 3 months, if they cannot get a job. You'd be surprised how many people wont do that.

Regardless

It is disgusting that there could be further cuts to this program. Food should NOT be where we are looking to tighten out belt! Shame SHAME.

Today's cheaper food contain additives and biproducts that keep us very unhealthy, that allows the medical costs to soar and profits to be had by the rich pharmacuticals .. and others ..

[mcvet]

The Christian Science Monitor reprted last week that the wall had finally been breached: 52% of 'so-called' Americans are receiving some type of handout from the government. We have become a modern day Roman Empire where those who can and do, are forced to provide for those who should but won't!
Posted by trisporter at 06:13 AM : Apr 23, 2007

Please! You're just another in a long line of Rich Nazi's who has gotten that way in a nation created and protected by hard working people. People who DO believe that those who can not get enough to get by on should have it. It's called the American Way you pathetic LOSER. I, for one, think we have a choice confronting us. We either rid ourselves of these slimy Nazi's and all they stand for or watch our nation continue to slide downward toward third world status. Sieg Heil America

[lukebize]

"Food stamps are not meant to be a sole means of providing for ones dietary needs."

Posted by trisporter at 06:13 AM : Apr 23, 2007

Actually, that is _exactly_ what the food stamp and surplus food programs were designed for: to ensure that those who had no food would eat a healthy diet, shielding our nation from the terrible degenerative diseases born of malnutrition.

Your words reveal no proud truth, just a sad and shamefully bellicose lack of understanding of the food stamp program, the people who benefit from it and the ultimate reduction of burden it provides for our country.

[darkfyreaol]

Let's see the governor live on top ramen and hot dogs for a whole month. Maybe throw in a bag of potatoes, those last a while.

When the program started, it was great, regardless of abuse by some people (using food stamps as cash). Now they brought in these 'EBT' cards to cut down on abuse and waste, and at the same time, they're cutting back to further reduce costs, not realizing the effect their cutbacks have on the average citizen.

As it is, it's not cost-effective to buy any single item at the supermarket that costs over $2, red meat and poultry included. Eating more than $10 of food a day is insane, on the 'food stamp diet'.

For those who laugh and jeer at people who live on foodstamps, just remember that America is no longer the 'land of opportunity'. The population has outgrown the amount of available jobs several times over. For every hour you spend in your office or behind the counter of a grocery store, is another hour someone else spends wondering where their next meal is, since Uncle Sam can't afford to help them out, while giving himself a raise every few months.

[barbaraf4]

Like most government benefit programs, Food Stamps have become corrupt. I won't address the administrative level; however, many recipients sell their stamps - this is particularly easy in the states using a debit card delivery system.

I was in line at the grocery story while listening to the cashier talk on her cell phone (don't you love it?). She was explaining to someone that she had to go meet an individual who sold their stamps to her every month. She paid $150 for $300 worth of stamps and it supplimented her food budget for her kids.

[phoenix1218]

Does he honestly think a week will make any difference? It will not. A single week compared to the months and years people are on food stamps. My family and I qaulify for $58 in food stamps for one month. Why doesn't he try to live on that instead of $48 a week?

[darkfyreaol]

"The FS program for, "Abled Bodied Adults Without Dependents" who have no medical reasons for not working are asked to do 24 hrs of community service to receive thier allotment each month, after the first 3 months, if they cannot get a job. You'd be surprised how many people wont do that. "

You'd be surprised at the number of people on the food stamp program who CANNOT do that. A decent amount of people are physically disabled or for whatever reason are unable to work, even though they want to.

This mumbo jumbo about unemployed people being those who don't want to work, is a load of ***. The average citizen is forced to make a choice: Work at a 7 Eleven or join the military, earn a degree, die for their country, and come home to work minimum wage for 20 hours a week. The average soldier works on a wage of $1,200 a year. That's the thanks they get for putting life and limb on the line to protect our freedom.

[lbwager]

I've used foodstamps once in my life (for about six months while I was unemployed)for my son and myself. Ironically, what was budgeted for me and my son was more than double the amount of dollars I generally spent a week when not on food stamps. It is hard to eat healthy meals while on food stamps. But I know from experience that it is even harder to eat well when you are just a few dollars past the cut-off line for receiving food stamps and your budget (after paying for other necessities like transportation, rent, student loans, medical bills) allows far less for food than food stamps (if you "qualified") would allow. We have a real problem in America... the working poor who make just enough too much to get any assistance. These are the people working for very low wages that allow the lifestyles of those who have never, ever had to worry about food. You know them well: They clean the houses of, care for the children of, press and starch the dress shirts of, and wait tables in the restaurants of those who have never had to even worry about a budget for food. Read "Nickled and Dimed in America" and see who the real philanthropers in American are.

[dallison7]

She paid $150 for $300 worth of stamps and it supplimented her food budget for her kids.
Posted by barbaraf4



It is indeed an 'ill wind that blows no man good'!


Many members of congress have 'sold' their votes to lobbyists. Should we disband congress or prosecute the guilty?

[barbaraf4]

"For those who laugh and jeer at people who live on foodstamps, just remember that America is no longer the 'land of opportunity'. The population has outgrown the amount of available jobs several times over. For every hour you spend in your office or behind the counter of a grocery store, is another hour someone else spends wondering where their next meal is, since Uncle Sam can't afford to help them out, while giving himself a raise every few months."
Posted by darkfyreaol at 08:33 AM : Apr 23, 2007

I guess we should all take comfort in the fact that "Guest Workers" (legal or non) are taking the jobs no one else wants.

[barbaraf4]

"Many members of congress have 'sold' their votes to lobbyists. Should we disband congress or prosecute the guilty?"
Posted by dallison7 at 08:47 AM : Apr 23, 2007

I assume members of congress can still go home and feed their kids after having "sold" their votes to lobbyists.

What does a person feed their kids after having "sold" their food stamps?

[huskerarmy]

"The Christian Science Monitor reprted last week that the wall had finally been breached: 52% of 'so-called' Americans are receiving some type of handout from the government."
trispoter, When you look around today, tell me if you really believe that 52% of the people around you are on the doll? I think that 52% says more about the shoddy work of the CSM and yourself for being so gulible in your antipathy.

[dallison7]

I assume members of congress can still go home and feed their kids after having "sold" their votes to lobbyists.

What does a person feed their kids after having "sold" their food stamps?

Posted by barbaraf4



The question is, 'Should we end a program that helps thousands upon thousands of unfortunate families simply because some abuse it?'

[lfitts1]

I applaud the governors symbolic gesture, but it highlights at the federal level that we have unlimited funds for adventures such as Iraq, but no money for our working poor--do you think our priorities are a little skewed??

[barbaraf4]

"The question is, 'Should we end a program that helps thousands upon thousands of unfortunate families simply because some abuse it?"
Posted by dallison7 at 09:00 AM : Apr 23, 2007

Of course not. But how do we make sure the food is getting to the target? If a parent sells the monthly allotment on the first of the month, to buy drugs or alcohol, or whatever, how do the children survive until the first of next month?

This is why I support the breakfast and lunch at school program. At lease the kids are getting fed.

[sandy19731]

Gov. K.,
What an effective and heartfelt way to make your point.

Well done!

[dallison7]

This is why I support the breakfast and lunch at school program. At lease the kids are getting fed.




Posted by barbaraf4



A good and worthwhile program, but remember there are hundreds of thousands of preschool children in this country, and many live in poverty.

My point, every program is subject to abuse. We cannot turn our backs on the needy because of that abuse. It's a problem, but a very small problem considering the good that is done.

[mikiwright]

Hot dogs and ramen noodles wouldn't work if the individual had diabetes and/or high blood pressure, or any other diet related ailments. Folks with diabetes shouldn't eat pasta, white bread,rice, sugar, beans, flour, and on and on. And those with high blood pressure should avoid processed meats that contain a lot of salt. No wonder the poor of our nation suffer from greater levels of type two diabetes and hypertension, as well as other food related ailments. The food they could buy and get full on that budget would be very unhealthy.

[haneyr-2009]

First off 'Darkfy...' get your facts straigt before you go off on a tantrum. The base salary for a person joining the military today is $1200 per MONTH not YEAR. And there is certainly nothing wrong with anyone taking a job at 7-11 to get a start in life. You must be just like the governor from Oregon who only takes his silver spoon out of his mouth long enough to burp some silly notion about feeling the pain of those less fortunate. Instead of a completely worthless one week diet plan why doesn't he and his equally high paid wife donate a portion of their salaries to help those less fortunate. I am sure they would rather get some extra spending money in THEIR pockets instead of the gov and his wife losing a few pounds. I don't see the Kennedy's and Clintons living in cheaper housing to help some poor family rise above their circumstances. So quit blaming the republicans and look in the mirror for a solution. Welfare has always been a vote buying plan and it is still working today.

[huskerarmy]

For those who don't want to be socially responsible on any level, it's very simple. Stereotype the poor as drug addicted, child abusers who drive Cadillacs and live in mansions bought and paid for by food stamps. Having grown up poor in America, I've always resented this hateful tact. And yet I was fortunate to have had loving parents and a supportive family. I earned a BA and a JD, admittedly with the help of government programs. But it was tremendously hard. I now choose not to forget how ridiculous the struggle nor look down on those left behind.

[huskerarmy]

"I don't see the Kennedy's and Clintons living in cheaper housing to help some poor family rise above their circumstances. So quit blaming the republicans and look in the mirror for a solution. Welfare has always been a vote buying plan and it is still working today."
Posted by haneyr
As long as there are those with money who don't give it all to the poor, the right will have this phony argument to justify their not giving a rats behind. The Clinton's and Kennedy's give far more than the Bushies and their ilk. The righties have to reduce feeding the hungry to political terms so they can justify a policy of "Let them eat cake."

[ov442]

I am always amazed at how our government is controlled by big business. Does anyone else think its rediculous that our Tax Dollars go to paying Agri-companies over 1.3 Billion$/year to NOT Grow anything on 600 million acres of US farmland? So then we cut food supplements to 500,000 elderly, and breakfast for kids -which is proven to help them learn, and foodstamp supplements to poor people.
Why dont we stop most of the Farm Subsidies and pay them to Actually Grow food which can be put into programs for the poor?
They dont need to worry about price drops due to surplus food, because the Government could use the excess (that we pay out taxes for already but get nothing for) for the poor, and other countries that need food desperately, instead of handing those countries cash to corrupt officials, ship them tons of US grown grains and other food.--- saves us tax money in every way.

[grumpas]

The Republican's never fail to stick out in a crowd like a sore thumb! It is obvious from his mean-spirited rant haneyr is one! All Republican's seem to have the same attitude! Not a gram of empathy for anyone less fortunate!

[realpatriot1]

huskerarmy,

Thanks for not forgetting where you came from and having some empathy for others.

6 years ago I was fired as the CFO of a nonprofit because I wouldn't miappropriate funds.

For 11 months I received unemployment and worked temp assignments until I finally got another full-time job.

I qualified for $350 per week unemployment,the maximum. I don't remember how much I got in food stamps but I ran up about $7,000 in credit card debt because I had to supplement for all the non-food products, like paper towels and tp that I couldn't buy with food stamps.

People on food stamps don't have it made like some ignorant people think.

As far as fraud is concerned, while I was on the program they did away eith paper coupons and issued debit cards to make it harder for people to sell it to others. I'm sure there's still some abuse, as there is in everything.

My question to those who attack the food stamp program is what is your alternative?

[jon_mccain]

As long as there are those with money who don't give it all to the poor, the right will have this phony argument to justify their not giving a rats behind. The Clinton's and Kennedy's give far more than the Bushies and their ilk. The righties have to reduce feeding the hungry to political terms so they can justify a policy of "Let them eat cake."
Posted by huskerarmy

As someone on another thread pointed out, Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are in the process of giving vast amounts of their fortunes back to the less fortunate in society. It has been my experience that the most "me" orientated, tend to be the type that cast themselves as "compassionate conservatives".

[barbaraf4]

"You must be just like the governor from Oregon who only takes his silver spoon out of his mouth long enough to burp some silly notion about feeling the pain of those less fortunate. Instead of a completely worthless one week diet plan why doesn't he and his equally high paid wife donate a portion of their salaries to help those less fortunate."

Posted by haneyr at 09:26 AM : Apr 23, 2007

Read the article.

The Governor of Oregon grew up in a boys home, joined the military, went to college on the GI Bill, and never looked back. He is living the American Dream, which is within reach of all of us who know how to prioritize. For example, if you get pregnant in high school, chances are you will never graduate and go to college. College is the ticket out, but few who are living in abject poverty can see that.

[oregonworker]

It might be of interest to the readers that while he is advocating for the federal government to maintain food stamp programs the governor has also proposed double digit increases on the taxes paid by the "working poor" in his own state. Oregon's income tax is already one of the highest in the nation on the working poor.

Perhaps it would be more helpful if the governor were to work on his own problems before he concerns himself with the federal budget.

source: www.ocpp.org/cgi-bin/display.cgi?page=nr270307poor

[barbaraf4]

FARTKNOCKER2

I saw something similar a few years ago. In line at the grocery store, the young woman in front of me, with her designer handbag, manicured nails, and cell phone stuck to her ear was buying fresh shrimp and steak with food stamps - pet food, since Food Stamps won't pay for pet food.

[fredegrar]

Maybe those who look down on people with foodstamps but still seem to have luxuries (cell phones, expensive shoes, cadillacs) should try the foodstamp diet indefinitely. How long before you start thinking of ways to game the system ya suppose?

[pd1032]

10 years ago I was on food stamps. Now working full time at a very good wage, I wish I could afford all of the food for my family that we were able to get while on food stamps. As a food stamp recipient at the time I was amazed at the amount benefits we received. We were also eating steaks (although no manicures or cell phones). If we didn't eat somewhat extravagantly, we barely touched our benefits. As a former recipient, they do give too much.

[torocaca]

"It might be of interest to the readers that while he is advocating for the federal government to maintain food stamp programs the governor has also proposed double digit increases on the taxes paid by the "working poor" in his own state. Oregon's income tax is already one of the highest in the nation on the working poor." Posted by oregonworker at 09:53 AM : Apr 23, 2007

Oregon has no SALES tax.

Try living in a state that has a 10-12% income tax and an 8% sales tax.

[fredegrar]

"As a former recipient, they do give too much."
Posted by pd1032 at 10:27 AM : Apr 23, 2007

So this $3/day/person figure they give in the story isn't accurate? How much did you get? Have there been cuts since 2000? How much? I'm fairly ignorant on this as the only assistance I ever got was a $500 pell grant. I'm just looking 4 real info...

[gkc99]

Oregonworker--if you're really in Oregon and not part of the RNC, you must realize that Oregon has no--NO--sales tax. So quit yer blubbering. That's one reason the income tax is relatively high. The other is the fat giveway on corporate income tax, which is far far lower than personal income tax.

[torocaca]

"Soory but here is what I saw at Kroger saturday night..My basket with hamberger meat..Black lady in front with steaks an chops plus a ton of other stuff..She was on cell phone most of the time... She paid in food stamps ????? I got into my 99 pick up truck..She got into 04 Cadlilac ??? So tell me again why I should care ??" Posted by FARTKNOCKER2 at 10:03 AM : Apr 23, 2007

You contradicted yourself, fartknocker2. Was she on the cell phone or was the kid on the cell phone? You can't have it both ways. LOL!! Your credibility isn't worth the time it took for you to spew that hateful bigotry.

[torocaca]

Food stamp statistics:

51 percent of all participants are children (18 or younger), and 65 percent of them live in single-parent households.

55 percent of food stamp households include children.

9 percent of all participants are elderly (age 60 or over).

79 percent of all benefits go to households with children, 16 percent go to households with disabled persons, and 7 percent go to households with elderly persons.

36 percent of households with children were headed by a single parent, the overwhelming majority of whom were women.

The average household size is 2.3 persons.

The average gross monthly income per food stamp household is $640.


And this one is for you fartknocker2 and barbaraf4:

41 percent of participants are white; 36 percent are African-American, non-Hispanic; 18 percent are Hispanic; 3 percent are Asian, 2 percent are Native American, and 1 percent are of unknown race or ethnicity.

[down-ndirty]

"...She was on cell phone most of the time.One older kid had her cell phone..."
Posted by FARTKNOCKER2 at 10:03 AM : Apr 23, 2007

You see the world through biased eyes... LOL!!

The food stamp program costs less than ONE month of WAR in Iraq. And you COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATIVES would rather pay for the war in Iraq and let American kids starve?

There's more corruption in congress, and government in general, than there is in the food stamp program.

OBTW: A lot, if not MOST, of Gates' and Buffet's charity went overseas. LOL!!

[huskerarmy]

"All Republican's seem to have the same attitude! Not a gram of empathy for anyone less fortunate!"
Indeed... most were born on third base and swear they hit a tripple.

[drivelphobe]

I don't know much about the food stamp program. I do know that occassionally I am behind someone in a grocery store line who is using them, and I've noticed they somehow get cigarettes and beer with the stamps. These individuals have always appeared to be scuzzy, trashy, dirty and stupid looking, and quite qualified for such an entitlement benefit. The grocery store employees seem to understand the system very well by transacting in the favor of these people. My gut reaction is that there is little control over the food stamp program if purchases can't be monitored.

People who require food stamps have made one bad decision after another in their lives and only continue to do so when the stamps are used. I think the system should be replaced with a work-for-dollars program. Boy that's an idea. Imagine actually working for food!

[sero5]

Promote eating healthy instead of eating cheap.

[torocaca]

"People who require food stamps have made one bad decision after another in their lives and only continue to do so when the stamps are used. I think the system should be replaced with a work-for-dollars program. Boy that's an idea. Imagine actually working for food!" Posted by drivelphobe at 11:04 AM : Apr 23, 2007

Yeah!! Great idea. Let's make the kids and elderly work to earn their food stamps. Real compassion from a conservative.

Meanwhile the "war for oil" continues on at $1 Billion/day.

More drivel from a phobic!! And stereotyping!!LOL!!

OBTW: Gates' "worth" is equal to that of 40% of Americans. When a nation's wealth is concentrated within a small percentage of the population, a larger percent of the population suffers--needlessly.

And lets send more good jobs overseas and import more immigrants to do the jobs that are left.

[cj7jeepstir]

Just another on a long list of examples of how this disgusting war is killing this country. It's not enough to send some of the best of our young people over there to be killed, we have to hurt the people at home too. So war profiteers like Cheney and his ilk can get richer. So oil trash like Bush and his ilk can get richer. So the Arabs will have Americans to kill to divert their attention away from Israel. Democracy is dieing in this country, for the sake of the almighty dollar and to protect our "friend" Israel.

[infidel_us]

Democrats.......a waste of human flesh. Food stamps (like welfare) are not meant to be a substitute for education and honest work. Quit making excuses for people who make poor choices in life.

I don't mind helping people who need a hand up, but I'll be damned if I'll support some slacker who thinks the government "owes" them a life.

[huskerarmy]

"I don't mind helping people who need a hand up, but I'll be damned if I'll support some slacker who thinks the government "owes" them a life."
Posted by Infidel_US
Isn't your litmus test for a "slacker" anyone who earns less than 50,000 a year? I would be horrified at the prospect of you making the determination of who is deserving and who isn't....

[dallison7]

These individuals have always appeared to be scuzzy, trashy, dirty and stupid looking, and quite qualified for such an entitlement benefit.
Posted by drivelphobe



There's that word again, 'entitlement'. And look at the class of person who likes to use it. Calling less fortunate individuals scuzzy, trashy, dirty and stupid looking. Makes me wonder what you look like, drivel. I'll bet you're all starched with slicked back hair. You probably lick you comb everytime you pass it through your greasy hair.

Anyway, you are certainly a credit to your neocon creed.

[huskerarmy]

"There's that word again, 'entitlement'. And look at the class of person who likes to use it."
They are the types who were born on third base and swear they hit a triple. They have no reservations about corporate welfare. Tax write-offs and "incentives" are on the other hand not an "entitlement." It's a birth right.