Mad Hatter's Hatbox

At the Hatbox, my penguin watches for all comments that are not nice.

Gingrich Statement About Food Stamps Was Correct

In the most recent presidential candidate debate, Newt Gingrich stated that more people have been put on food stamps than under any other president in history. White House spokesman Jay Carney said that was “crazy”. Well, here are the facts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 2008, 28.2 million people received food stamps totaling $37.6 billion. In 2011, 44.7 million people received food stamps at a cost of $75.3 billion. Explain to me how that indicates we are in an economic recovery from the recession?

CBS stated correctly that the percentage increase under Bush from 2001-2008 (63 %) was higher than the percentage increase under Obama (44.5 %). Let’s look at these numbers a little more closely. The increase of 63% over 8 years works out to an annual increase of 7%. A 44.5 % increase over three years works out to 13.1%. That rate is nearly double the rate under Bush. Let’s look at the numbers another way, increase in people applying for food stamps. Under Obama there has been an increase of 18 million people, 6 million per year. Under Bush there was an increase in 10.9 million or 1.6 million per year. That rate is nearly 4 times the rate under Bush.

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