Millionaires Club in Congress Presides Over Additional Food Stamp Cuts

$9 billion in cuts expected to hit up to a million people in 15 states

By Carla Murphy Jan 10, 2014

For the first time in history, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, most members of Congress are now millionaires–or pretty close to it. Also announced this week is news that members are finally nearing a deal on the embattled 2013 Farm Bill, which will contain an additional $9 billion in reduced food stamp benefits over the next decade. It’s a compromise deal from $40 billion in cuts initially proposed by House Republicans.

Last November’s $5 billion cut to food stamp benefits hit 47 million Americans. The new reductions target nearly a million residents in 15 states who receive benefits through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).