Food stamp use up in March for 37th straight month diverting $35+ billion from US taxpayers in 2011

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5/31/11, "Food Stamp Participation Rises for 37th-Straight Month," TheStreet.com, J. Deaux

"Food stamp participation rose for the 37th straight month, according to the Food and Nutrition Service.

Individual participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program rose in March to about 44.6 million, a number which has risen

• 38.2% since February 2008.

The government spent $5.98 billion in March for SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. Total costs for fiscal year 2011 are

• up to $35.22 billion.

Household participation is at about 21 million, which means that for those who use food stamps, SNAP supports about two people per household....

"Consistent with program design, the pattern of SNAP participation has closely followed the pattern of poverty in America over the last two decades. As the number of persons in poverty rose, SNAP participation grew. As poverty fell, so did reliance on SNAP," said the USDA. The Food and Nutrition Service is a division of the USDA."

via Rush Limbaugh Show, Mark Steyn