Business

Food Stamp Use at All-Time High

Food-stamp usage soared to an all-time high in June with a total of 46.7 million Americans receiving the government aid, Bloomberg reports.

That’s a 0.4 percent increase from May.

“Participation was 3.3 percent higher than a year earlier and has remained higher than 46 million all year as the unemployment rate has stagnated just above 8 percent,” the report adds.

But wait! There’s more!

Not only has food-stamp spending become the USDA’s single greatest annual expense, but it has more than doubled in four years to “a record $75.7 billion in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2011,” according to Bloomberg.

“Reductions in the program have emerged as a point of contention in debate over a farm bill to replace current law that expires Sept. 30. The U.S. Senate in June passed a plan that would lower expenditures by $4 billion over 10 years, while the House Agriculture Committee the following month backed a $16 billion cut,” the report adds.

Total food-stamp spending in June: $6.21 billion. That’s a 0.4 percent increase from May and 2.8 percent more than it was at this time last year.

And in case you need help visualizing everything you just read, here’s a chart from the Matt Trivisonno blog illustrating monthly increases in participation since 2006:

Food Stamp Use at All Time High

Here’s a chart illustrating the annual increase in food-stamp participation:

Food Stamp Use at All Time High

The Senate Budget Committee Republican staff under Ranking Member Jeff Sessions (R-AL) also released this chart illustrating the recent explosion in food-stamp spending:

Food Stamp Use at All Time High

Have you noticed a pattern yet? Do you see where the exponential increases in spending and participation occur?

If your first reaction was to notice that both spending and participation have experienced massive increases under the leadership of President Barack Obama, then shame on you. That’s racist.

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Front page photo source courtesy the AP.

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Comments (71)

  • Centralsville
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:50pm

    Thank you Obama. They can be so proud that food stamp usage is at an all time high. The overall jobs in America have shrunk in Obama’s term as president, the national debt has grown a few trillion, the Middle Class has lost a third of it’s worth, the average household income of the Middle Class has for the first time seen it’s actual wages drop while inflation is shooting upward, gas has tripled. His plan to fix the problem, more government. More unemployment, more job training programs, cuts to tax withholdings that pay for Medicare and Social Security, both of which are going broke. More “green” energy waste. How could anyone with a brain vote for this idiot.

    Report this comment

    Centralsville  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on September 4, 2012 at 2:38pm

      I have not been to the grocery store one time in the last two years, in which the minority in line in front of me used anything other than the foodstamp card to pay their bill…..I’m beginning to think 100% of minorities are on foodstamps…..”….and most of them weigh over 300 pounds….”..it’s sickening.

      Report this comment

      Detroit paperboy  
    • Gold Coin & Economic News
      Posted on September 4, 2012 at 2:59pm

      Some people like this guy, actually love it that Obama is selling out the country to the entitlement crowd:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTRqjpK6ScQ

      Report this comment

      Gold Coin & Economic News  
    • yiska8
      Posted on September 4, 2012 at 3:05pm

      @DetroitPaperBoy
      Me too!! I see more elderly struggling to count out their change and making sure they have it down to the penny and then a fat, young, woman with three kids,two of which are hanging out the cart asking what her food stamp balance is! While her tatted boyfriend waits with crossed arms at the end of the lane. They’re too lazy to even check their own food stamp balance with their Apple smartphone!!!! Ohh that chaps my Texas *ss every time I go to the store!!!!!

      Report this comment

      yiska8  
    • SCREW-WINDOWS
      Posted on September 4, 2012 at 6:57pm

      @ yiska8
      I have a daughter just like that her boyfriend is a multi felon drug dealer.

      Report this comment

      SCREW-WINDOWS  
    • yiska8
      Posted on September 4, 2012 at 8:38pm

      @screw windows
      I’m sorry. Maybe someday she’ll be forced to grow up and contribute. If the government dole lifestyle continues it this pace, who’s to say that government won’t someday come up with a plan for able bodied (lazy) people to work for the government for free in order pay off what they’ve taken all these years. That could happen. It’s enslavement. Collectivism and forced labor is a scary, but possible future if America stays in the ditch with a broke down train called Obama.

      Report this comment

      yiska8  
    • mlgunner
      Posted on September 5, 2012 at 12:42am

      Read it and weep. Then read it again:
      http://westernrifleshooters.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/bracken-when-the-music-stops-how-americas-cities-may-explode-in-violence/

      Report this comment

      mlgunner  
    • loriann12
      Posted on September 5, 2012 at 7:05am

      I got one better for you: I personally know a woman on “SSI disability” who walks to her boyfriends house, has 4 kids by different fathers (none of which are her current boyfriend), is on food stamps and has government subsidized housing and all her kids have blackberries. she posts on facebook everytime she eats out (Olive Garden, Sonic, local BBQ joint, etc) but is getting ready to have foot surgery so she wants someone to “loan” her a knee scooter so she doesn’t have to use crutches. Her son (about 20) is a baby daddy. When he got a job and the government found out, they lowered what they give her for rent and she went into a tirade….because her son didn’t give HER any of that money and she was still having to pay his phone bill. It’s the whole taker mentality….My name is Jimmy I’ll take all you can gimme.

      Report this comment

      loriann12  
  • Mkw36
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:42pm

    Food Stamps are nothing more than subsidies for the Alcohol, Tabacco, Tattoo, **** Extensions and Acrylic Nail industries…

    Report this comment

    Mkw36  
  • Farmhand82
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:37pm

    Everyone stop what you’re all doing! We’re all being racist for talking about food stamps, don’t you know!? Chris Matthews says so!

    Report this comment

    Farmhand82  
  • TH30PH1LUS
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:34pm

    The DNC will likely tout this as a “success” story. The great evil of progressivism is that those infected by it actually BELIEVE they are doing good as they destroy individualism, personal drive to excell, competition, and capitalism.

    May Almighty God help us rid ourselves of the tyranny of Obama and progressivism in both parties!

    Report this comment

    TH30PH1LUS  
  • JQuentinEvermann
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:34pm

    I’m on strike!

    Report this comment

    JQuentinEvermann  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:34pm

    The answer to this food stamp mania is two fold,fire the Marxist mulatto in chief and abolish the unconstitutional USDA and probably fifty other BS illegal departments,problem solved.

    Report this comment

    progressiveslayer  
    • Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
      Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:47pm

      Here here!!!

      I just happened to be scratching some numbers on a cocktail napkin. So, if 46.7 million Americans are on foodstamps and the June expense was 6.21 billion that means each recipient got roughly 133 bucks in benefits for the month. Now, we know there are 150M who actually pay federal income tax in some form. that means on average each of us is paying roughly 42 dollars per month to someone elses grocery bill. This is before we pay national defense, interest on the debt, and medicare, medicaid, etc.

      Wow.

      Report this comment

      Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on September 4, 2012 at 2:30pm

      If you give somebody something for nothing, like money to live on, you destroy that person. Never, ever “give” anybody anything. And don’t give me that crap about the children. They are using the kids to get free money. They don’t give a rat’s ass about them kids. End all welfare now.

      Report this comment

      Mil-Dot  
    • EyeofthePatriot
      Posted on September 4, 2012 at 3:04pm

      @ROTHBARDIAN

      Those are some AMAZING numbers. I think we need to dig deeper on those and get some solid articles to back them up, they’re everywhere so that shouldn’t be difficult. But what you just scratched on that napkin of yours is truly amazing… is that honestly where we are in this Country??? Every Federal Income-Tax payer with real tax liability in the end, pays $43 towards a single food stamp recipients monthly bill!

      My jaw is sitting on the floor right now at such a simple little statistic with such enormous implications. Nice work.

      Report this comment

      EyeofthePatriot  
  • davetrav
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:32pm

    OBAMA , says we are doing GREAT—–WOULD HE LIE.
    VOTE OBAMA OUT.

    Report this comment

    davetrav  
    • SCREW-WINDOWS
      Posted on September 4, 2012 at 7:03pm

      Don’t worry food prices have outgrown the benefits of foodstamps many poor are feeling the pain.

      Report this comment

      SCREW-WINDOWS  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:31pm

    It looks like the Marxist mulatto in chief’s plan to make everyone dependent on government for life is moving right along .This Marxist regime is vile,it tells everyone you can’t make it on your own you need government to pay for your existence,what happens when government decides to stop paying for you to exist? Maybe they’ll pay to make you not exist,ever think of that?

    Report this comment

    progressiveslayer  
  • davetrav
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:30pm

    WHY—Obama and the Democrats say everyday –that we are better off more today than 4 years ago.
    LIES, AFTER LIES—–VOTE OBAMA OUT—-HELP AMERICA HEAL.– The double talk has to stop,WAKE UP AMERICA.

    Report this comment

    davetrav  
  • Meyvn
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:29pm

    Pathetic!

    Report this comment

    Meyvn  
  • Carlinpa
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:26pm

    Obama: Dreams from Saul Alinsky

    Report this comment

    Carlinpa  
  • jackact
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:24pm

    Oh the pure joy of living in a Blue State, like NY for instance, where federal income taxpaying city residents are barred by their own elected government from consuming trans fats, sugar, salt and anything related to Chick-fil-A……while food stamp recipients in grocery stores citi-wide (many not even able to speak or understand English) pile into their shopping carts trans fats, sugary sodas, salty snacks, cigarettes and booze…..all paid for by the same citizens that have been restricted to use the very same food products.
    Ha ha ha ha ha…..you are what you vote NY. Enjoy!
    Ha ha ha ha….. and you’ll continue to vote the same way….Ha ha ha…
    Morons.

    Report this comment

    jackact  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:18pm

    Another high point victory for the Obama Administration. They must be SO proud.

    Report this comment

    teddrunk  
  • toiletclogga
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:03pm

    Does anybody still not believe Obama is purposefully overwhelming the system?

    Report this comment

    toiletclogga  
  • woodyee
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:00pm

    Where are Gaybama’s defenders? C’mon folks – step up to the plate! here you are presented with FACTS, something you find offensive and abhorrent, and yet you sit mute…

    Report this comment

    woodyee  
  • randy
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:56pm

    Obama, The food Stamp President.

    Report this comment

    randy  
    • The Jewish Avenger
      Posted on September 4, 2012 at 1:30pm

      “Gasp! Why Thats thats…”

      …do they ever get tired of lying over and over again?

      Report this comment

      The Jewish Avenger  
    • needmoinfo
      Posted on September 4, 2012 at 10:02pm

      The rabbit food stamp president. Michelle’s new mission is to take all the food she perceives as unhealthy out of grocery stores. Well a lot of grocery stores sell cigarettes and alcohol. And they accept food stamps for them. You know that will go first. And what about methane gas. Those nasty cow farts. Will meat be restricted too. Chips, soda, bakery, sugar all gone. Is this government getting out of our lives? Fact. Children need a lot of calories for growth of their brains and bodies and fuel. They are dumping the low cal. nutrician deficient lettuce in the garbage. I’ve seen those former school menus and they filled a big gap in many childrens’ lives. There was variety, kid friendly and nourishing meals. Her so called improvement will result in more anemic kids. Someone should tell that ding dong the fat kids got that way at home. Oops. Forgot. She is going to wreck the best grocery stores on the planet. And millions of jobs related to it. Who does she think she is?

      Report this comment

      needmoinfo  
  • woodyee
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:55pm

    “Food-Stamp Use at All-Time High”, or The Leftist Utopian Dream within sight…

    Report this comment

    woodyee  
  • willost
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:53pm

    Mind boggling!
    So let me wrap my head around this one.
    I worked my tail off for thirty years to get where I am today (I earn just over 100k a year) – and now a substantial portion of so-called Americans decide, meh, why work, I’ll just take the Gov’t handout…. !

    Really, is this what we have become…

    To be fair, I’m sure there are very legitimate folks that need this assistance, but we’re talking about ~ one in every five Americans…. Staggering…

    We’re sunk!

    Report this comment

    willost  
  • MeteoricLimbo
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:45pm

    Just look at the countless ways to buy votes….Now I see an ad on TV urging people to go on disability. Frankly I would be ashamed to be a member of the democratic party.

    Report this comment

    MeteoricLimbo  
  • watersRpeople
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:42pm

    And they will say “As long as I have a little more money than food-stamp collectors; as long as I can afford a little more security; I will go on paying, although I may just whine a lot. Nevertheless I’ll go on slaving, because….I love you money.”

    Report this comment

    watersRpeople  
  • ThePostman
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:41pm

    Are you better off now than 4 years ago? The chart doesn’t lie, the answer is a resounding ‘no’. The situation is twice as bad as 4 years ago.

    Or, looked at another way, 4 years ago we were facing potentially 8 years under Obama’s rule. Worst case today, we are only facing 4 more years, so things are better from that point of view.

    Report this comment

    ThePostman  
  • moreteaplease
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:41pm

    The current administration sees this as progress.

    Report this comment

    moreteaplease  
  • watersRpeople
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:38pm

    Of course it’s at an all time high, and it’s going to continue until the money lovers get tired enough of paying for it. Money lovers love money so much that they will keep paying for their security, as long as they have some money left to look at saying “I love you money” for themselves they will keep paying.

    Report this comment

    watersRpeople  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:36pm

    cloward and piven ………………….overwhelm the system

    Report this comment

    Psychosis  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:34pm

    Ah, Progress!

    Report this comment

    MrButcher  

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