Oregon Governor Will Live Off Food Stamps

By Joseph Friedrichs, 4-23-07

Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and his wife are taking a diet of sorts this week to show support for the nation’s troubled food stamp program.

The Kulongoskis will spend just $3 a day each on their meals, $42 in all for the week, to match the amount spent by the average food stamp recipient in Oregon.

So while Kulongoski is familiar with dining on Oregon’s finest eats, including fresh Pacific salmon, Cascade berries and the choicest of meats, this week will likely be filled with cans of refried beans and cheap tortillas. Grocery Outlet anyone?

“My wife came up to me and said, ‘Either you or the dog is going on a diet. I lost,’ “ Kulongoski said, according to the Associated Press.

Kulongoski and his wife, Mary Oberst, are the highest-profile people yet to take part in a “food stamp challenge,” a trend sponsored by religious groups, community activists and food pantries across the country, the AP reported.

The challenge comes at a political crossroads for the food stamp program. The Bush administration has proposed several cuts, among them taking away food stamps from about 185,000 people because they receive other noncash government assistance, the AP reported.

The Department of Agriculture budget, as proposed, would also eliminate a program that gives boxes of food to nearly half a million seniors each month.

Also, check out this piece by The Onion.