Your Opinion: Why the increase in food stamp recipients?

Dear Editor:

If the economy is doing so great why did we have over 43 million food stamp recipients in June 2016? The program will cost us over $65 billion this year.

In 2007, prior to the start of the recession, there were fewer than 27 million recipients. The program cost us $33.2 billion that year, which was nearly double what it cost us FY2000.

From FY2000 to June 2016 we have had a 250 percent increase in the number of recipients and a nearly 400 percent increase in the cost of the program.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap

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