Jul 19 Watch 9:19 Hunger a persistent problem for poor Americans as Republicans mull SNAP cuts By Frank Carlson, Mike Fritz, Cat Wise Spending on social welfare programs like SNAP, also known as food stamps, would be dramatically cut under the White House budget unveiled in May. In Arkansas, a state that mirrors the national picture, 14 percent of the population was on… Continue watching
Jul 19 If SNAP benefits are cut, who hurts the most? By Laura Santhanam For five decades, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called food stamps, has provided access to food for millions of Americans and is the nation’s largest program that targets hunger. But policies at the state and federal level could tear… Continue reading
Jul 14 House Republicans to move ahead with budget plan as debate over mandatory program cuts continues By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press The House Budget Committee will vote next week on the plan, which would spend far more money next year than Trump has proposed. Continue reading
May 23 WATCH: Mick Mulvaney presents Trump’s $4 trillion budget By Andrew Taylor and Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press Writers Tuesday's budget blueprint faces a skeptical reception from Congress. Continue reading
Dec 07 House Republicans plan to overhaul nation’s food stamps program By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press The GOP majority on the House Agriculture Committee released a two-year review of the program on Wednesday that stops short of making specific policy recommendations, but hints at areas where Republicans could focus: strengthening work requirements and perhaps issuing new… Continue reading
Nov 15 Will Trump, a fast-food fan, remake healthy school lunches? By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Children grumbling about healthier school meal rules championed by first lady Michelle Obama may have reason to cheer Trump's election as the billionaire businessman is a proud patron of Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonald's while promising to curb federal regulations. Continue reading
Sep 13 Income is up, poverty is down, but neither are back at pre-recession levels By Kristen Doerer With improving incomes, 3.5 million people climbed out of poverty in 2015, pushing down the official poverty rate to 13.5 percent. Continue reading
Feb 16 Watch Will shoppers on food stamps pick up fresher foods? By PBS News Hour The U.S. government wants to steer the 46 million Americans who receive food stamps toward healthier food choices. The USDA plans to require retailers that accept those benefits to stock more fresh foods. But would healthier options change behavior? Gwen… Continue watching
Feb 16 USDA rules would increase food stamp access to healthy foods By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press The Agriculture Department unveiled new rules on Tuesday that would force retailers who accept food stamps to stock a wider variety of healthy foods or face the loss of business as consumers shop elsewhere. Continue reading
Apr 23 Twitter chat: Should the government tell welfare recipients how to spend their money? By Nora Daly A new Kansas restricts the ways in which recipients of government assistance can spend their benefits. While many states have placed restrictions on how benefit cards can be used, prohibiting purchases such as alcohol, tobacco products and adult entertainment, the… Continue reading