East Bay Congresswoman Takes The Food Stamp Challenge

OAKLAND (KCBS) — A program that helps 44.5 million Americans put food on the table is coming under fire by Republicans, but Congresswoman Barbara Lee is calling on them to take the Food Stamp Challenge.

The challenge is to live for a week on the $31.50, the average a food stamp recipient receives. That's $4.50 a day or $1.50 a meal.

East Bay Congresswoman Barbara Lee is taking the challenge for the second time. She said during the early 70's, she was a single mother on public assistance.

Lee explained the challenge is aimed at warding off a Republican proposal that would mean $2 billion less for the food stamp program than President Obama requested.

She added that people aren't on food stamps to avoid working.

"More of the right wing says they want to be on it just to be on it, but the reality is, just like me, nobody wants to be on food stamps," Lee said.

A record number of Americans rely on food stamps to put food on the table. Lee said any cuts or changes to the food stamp program are simply an attack on the poor.

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