Topic: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
History: (optional)
Food Stamps, renamed SNAP in 2008, have been around since President Johnson’s War on Povertyin 1964. As part of the Farm Bill, the idea of the programis to both strengthen the agricultural economy and to improve nutrition among low income Americans. The program generally enjoys broad, bipartisan support. Rather than face cuts under Reagan and Clinton, like many social programs, program delivery has been expanded and refined.The adjustments of the past 20-30 years have largely increased payments to recipients, reduced stigma, modernized program administration (EBT cards), reduced fraud and clarified eligibility.Since 2008, the program as increased emphasis on nutrition education, expanded access to places like farmers’ markets and supported efforts to improve enrollment rates.
For more detailed history:
Problem: (please read)
The main problem for the SNAP status quo is that the program is working well. Program accuracy is at an all time high. Fraud is at an all time low. However, the recession has led to a record number of eligible participants. Here is some 2009 data:
More recent data shows that 47 million people will receive SNAP benefits this year, amounting to about $80.4 billion dollars of aid in 2012. This is where the problem comes into focus.
Read these if you want/need more examples of the renewed focus on SNAP (interesting, but optional):
Time for a solution? (please read)
The issue is becoming increasingly politicized. I suggest two main reasons (crisis situations) for the current focus: the economic situation and the obesity epidemic. In response, various pilot tests, modifications and reforms have been suggested:
The 2008 Farm Bill included $20 million in funds for a Healthy Incentives Pilot program, to test strategies for encouraging better nutrition with SNAP funds.
Some argue for tighter controls over the types of food being purchased (which is not new, the 1964 House bill included a provision to prohibit the use of food stamps on luxury foods).
Some argue for increased spending allotments for families.
Others suggest shifting the focus of change upstream, to retailers:
Questions:
The point is, there are many suggestions about what to do with this government program. There is no shortage of parties interested in the outcome. So, how to proceed?
1)Should action be taken at all? Is it appropriate to use SNAP to modify individual behavior? Is it appropriate to include SNAP in government austerity?
2)Is an incremental or non-incremental strategy the best?
3)Who should be included/excluded from the reform table?