Oregon Gov. Will Live On Food Stamp Diet

(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.

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[momminmn]

I meant to also say that a box of cereal is inexpensive and can be an excellent part of breakfast. Also, the $1.57 can of Progresso soup that the governor turned down did not sit well with me. Anyone on food stamps should really be thinking hard about buying premade foods. I can make an entire pot of homemade chicken noodle soup for about $2 and it feeds my whole family one meal plus some leftover. Food stamps are not meant to feed you like a King. They are meant to feed you, period. I don't mean to sound harsh.

[momminmn]

First of all, highly unlikely that they would only get $21 of foodstamps to work with at one time. Seems like it would be $21 x 4 = $84 which should last one month. That person would not be stuck with ramen and hotdogs like the article suggested. In my local grocery store flyer that came in the mail yesterday: eggs .79, ground beef 1.99, fresh strawberries .99, mixed salad .88, Deli lunchmeat 10 oz $2, cheese 24 oz 3.77, miracle whip $2, loaf of bread $2, gallon of milk $3.74. Total $17.16. Can still purchase other things. If you were working with a MONTHLY sum of money here and not just $21 think potatoes, rice, pasta, beans, flour, sugar, butter and the basics so that a person could make their own "fillers" as you called them as well as desserts. A person can make it on $21/week - if they're smart about it. There is nothing wrong with eating a sandwich for lunch each day. Makes life easier! I feed my family of 5 for less than $100/wk. My husband doesn't mind brownbagging his lunch, and I have no problem baking, freezing extras, or even making my own pasta. The trick is to "cook ahead". Hard boiling eggs, browning some meat ahead of time and then freezing the extra, just cooking in bulk in general. The article made it sound like such a difficult task. No, you wouldn't be eating steak or all organics, but you would be eating just fine.

[momminmn]

First of all, highly unlikely that they would only get $21 of foodstamps to work with at one time. Seems like it would be $21 x 4 = $84 which should last one month. That person would not be stuck with ramen and hotdogs like the article suggested. In my local grocery store flyer that came in the mail yesterday: eggs .79, ground beef 1.99, fresh strawberries .99, mixed salad .88, Deli lunchmeat 10 oz $2, cheese 24 oz 3.77, miracle whip $2, loaf of bread $2, gallon of milk $3.74. Total $17.16. Can still purchase other things. If you were working with a MONTHLY sum of money here and not just $21 think potatoes, rice, pasta, beans, flour, sugar, butter and the basics so that a person could make their own "fillers" as you called them as well as desserts. A person can make it on $21/week - if they're smart about it. There is nothing wrong with eating a sandwich for lunch each day. Makes life easier! I feed my family of 5 for less than $100/wk. My husband doesn't mind brownbagging his lunch, and I have no problem baking, freezing extras, or even making my own pasta. The trick is to "cook ahead". Hard boiling eggs, browning some meat ahead of time and then freezing the extra, just cooking in bulk in general. The article made it sound like such a difficult task. No, you wouldn't be eating steak or all organics, but you would be eating just fine.

[barbaraf4]

"to barbaraf4, I might remind you that SCOTUS just took some of the "right to choose" about having children or not having children out of the Mothers hands....and if they get a chance, they'll take all the right to choose...so you would suggest what for a normal married woman..? The rhythm system..? Perhaps alchemy..? Maybe bones and rattles..."

Are you asking what I would recommend for a "normal married woman"? How about for all sexually active women? See your doctor and find out what is right for you. If you want sarcasm, then I could suggest aspirin. One held tightly between your knees works everytime.

[chabuka-2009]

to barbaraf4, I might remind you that SCOTUS just took some of the "right to choose" about having children or not having children out of the Mothers hands....and if they get a chance, they'll take all the right to choose...so you would suggest what for a normal married woman..? The rhythm system..? Perhaps alchemy..? Maybe bones and rattles...

[chabuka-2009]

Nice thought, Govenor..but it would really only count if you lived on food stamps for an entire month....as food stamp recpients get a monthly stipend. Using a months worth of food stamps in just one week, would net you pretty much anything you wanted, (except caviar and champagne)...do it for a month..no cheating..and you will find out how awful it is to live on "tube steaks" and "noodles with flavored water" month after month after month, with no end in site

[barbaraf4]

"Have you seen the cost of formula for babies? Diapers? A generic can of formula at Wal-Mart is about 12 bucks and we go through one of those at least every 2 to 3 days=$24/week=$1248/year. And, that is if the baby can even use the cheapest, most generic brand available and many babies can't because of allergies or dietary needs, such as premature infants. A small can of Enfamil, for example, which is what many pediatricians recommend, runs almost $24 a can. It is much smaller the one above and so you would go through at least 2 to 3 a week; $24/can x3 cans/week x52 weeks/year =$3744. That is for formula alone. Shall I go on to diapers?"

Posted by me4prezz at 11:54 PM : Apr 23, 2007

The bottom line is that YOU made the decision to bring these children into the world. If you are working 3 jobs to support them, that is a consequence of your decision. If you expect taxpayers to help support your family, then you were wrong on your original decision. If you can't afford to feed, clothe and education a child, then don't have one.

As for diapers, if you can't afford those expenses disposable ones, then buy some cloth ones and launder and reuse them.

[kansas1946]

Oh, here we go. Bush and Co. (big supporters of life) have cut program after program that benefit at risk children. It is just a little reminder that Republicans only care about children before they are born. They are pretty cheap to feed in the womb, but let 'em starve once they are born. This current bunch of Republicans is the biggest bunch of hypocrites that I have ever seen.

[archangelric]

where do you get the idea that 80% of the people are getting work on the side and are abusing the system? What kind of drugs have you been doing?

every audit has found very very few examples of "welfare queens", etc. This is another one of those urban myths - you hear one story in a newspaper and all of a sudden its everyone.

and, for your information, just because a disabled person gets some work on the side does not mean it is safe for them, that they are healthy enough to work; only that they are desperate enough to risk their lives to have something for dinner, a roof over their heads.

After all, so what if another disabled veteran dies trying to work "on the side" just to get dinner as his disability payments don't stretch that far?

try this on for size: Veterans 100% disability for "non-service connected" (the VA does not admit fault) is currently $910 per month. Most places want income of 3 times the rent so you could rent a place that would cost $305 a month. Find that place (or shut your mouth).

[gegan249]

This is a case where 80% of the welfare recipients are ruining it for the 20% who actually deserve it.

Unfortunately, rules must blanket everyone so the needy suffer.

Perhaps the solution is to provide more flexible rules (and implementation of some of the readers suggestions) to the more aptly abled welfare recipients.

It's too bad that our Vietnam Vet will only get $10 per month (because $250 per month for food was too much) and, without singling out any one genre, hoardes of others on welfare relaxing, raising a family on the government dime.

I almost guarantee you that the 80% who abuse the system do extra work 'on the side' to make more money and therefore are able to work and find work.