ASSEMBLYMAN MARK LENO'S FOOD STAMP CHARADE
"In taking up the 'Food Stamp Challenge,' living on $21 of food for a week, Assemblyman Mark Leno is correct in stating 'most of us will never know the desperation a parent must feel when trying to feed their family nutritious foods using food stamps.' There is only one problem with this political stunt and tirade - most Californians who are on food stamps will not know the struggle he describes either.
"Trying to live on $21 per week is based on the national average of food stamp money provided, but the State of California provides an average amount of $200 per month. In addition, food stamp recipients may be eligible to receive state and county cash and housing assistance benefits - Assemblyman Leno's charade also fails to include local community and religious assistance programs.
"Assemblyman Leno would do the hardworking families of California a greater service by highlighting how these individuals can empower themselves to rise from social and economic poverty.
"Having grown up in a household where our family of four survived on less than $28,000 a year, out of personal experience I can tell you that Assemblyman Leno over paid at least $1.50 for each can of soup."
Hector M. Barajas, Communications Director, California Republican Party
Assemblyman Leno Takes The "Food Stamp Challenge To Live On a Food Budget Of $21 This Week." (Mark Leno, Press Release, 6/4/07)
"'Most of us will never know the desperation a parent must feel when trying to feed their family nutritious food using food stamps,' said Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco)." (Mark Leno, "Assemblyman Leno Takes The "Food Stamp Challenge To Live On a Food Budget Of $21 This Week," Press Release, 6/4/07)
"The estimates are revised every year to keep pace with changes in food prices. The average amount of food stamp benefits received per household is about $200 per month." (California Department Of Social Services, Food Stamp Programs, Accessed: 6/5/07)
"According to Leno's press secretary Shannan Velayas, Leno went to the grocery over the weekend and bought his food for the week: six cans of soup at $2 each,...." (Capitol Morning Report, 6/5/07)
