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Washington on $3 a day? Congressman will try it
Top Headlines And when he attends a reception for Sen. Hillary Clinton later in the week, he will be drinking tap water while others enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. McGovern, D-Worcester, will be on a subsistence diet all next week as he and U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson attempt to live on $3 a day for food. The lawmakers say they will be trying to make ends meet to demonstrate what they contend is insufficient aid poor families receive in the form of food stamps. The minimum benefit from food stamps is $10 a month, McGovern said. He and Emerson, R-Mo., will be living on the average benefit of $21 a week, or $3 a day. "This is more than a gimmick," McGovern said. "This is an attempt to ignite a discussion or a debate." He said the food stamp benefit has remained level, while the cost of food has increased dramatically. "The purchasing power of the benefit has slowly eroded over the years," he said. McGovern said opponents of raising the benefit counter that food stamps are supposed to supplement food purchases, and are not intended to be the sole source of food money for the poor. But McGovern said the cost of gasoline, medicine and everything else has gone up, leaving those in need in the position of making a choice of what necessities they will purchase. He said hunger is growing in the United States and is spreading into the working class. "These are people who work hard for a living," he said. McGovern and Emerson co-chair the hunger caucus in the House. They have filed a bill to raise spending on all nutrition programs by $20 billion over five years. The bill would raise the asset level for eligibility for food stamps and improve the benefit. It also would authorize more outreach to poor families. The government estimates that only 60 percent of eligible families nationwide and 49 percent in Massachusetts apply for food stamps. The issue is coming up for debate in Congress as it considers reauthorizing the Farm Bill. Meanwhile, McGovern anticipates being one hungry congressman next week. He will go shopping Monday to buy his $21 worth of food for the week. Between Tuesday and May 21, he will not be able to drink the office coffee, accept handouts at receptions or eat anything he had not purchased with his $21. JIM HAND covers politics for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508-236-0399 or at jhand@thesunchronicle.com.
Post Your Comments Realist wrote on May 9, 2007 1:41 PM: " Chet - I never voted for him. It's that strange Massachusetts attitude of "I favor term limits, but not for my guy". As long as he keeps coming up with proclamations, calling federal agencies on behalf of those with perceived grievences, and shows up with grant checks composed of our tax dollars he will get elected.
" Chet wrote on May 9, 2007 1:28 PM: " It seems like there should be more focus on the cause of the problem than the current solution. If you ask me it might help to figure out why people need food stamps instead of increasing the limit. Lets look to get people off government programs and find them jobs that they can sustain a healthy lifestyle. Why do we continue to vote for people like him? " Realist wrote on May 9, 2007 11:47 AM: " Some of my previous comments were lost:
I am not impressed by Mr. McGovern's actions. Food stamps never were meant to replace a family's food budget, but to supplement it. If that's his goal then he should file a bill. Has he ever gotten a piece of legislation through? (someone please let me know). If you want to make some more changes, make it easier for a local farm stand to accept food stamps for fruits and vegetables. The people who need it get fresh food, the farmer gets some more business and the profits stay in the area and don't go off to a supermarket holding company in another country. Political theatrics like this, both in and out of the chambers do nothing.
If McGovern really wants to impress me: Use a free clinic for health care, not the health care Congress gives itself. Have him prepare for retirement like someone whose company just shut down their pension plan and now there is only Social Security (which Congress refuses to act on). Live like the rest of the world all the time,Mr. McGovern, not just for a week. " two dollars a day wrote on May 9, 2007 11:47 AM: " How long has this man been in Congress,and people have been suffering all this time. He should be ashamed. " sean j. wrote on May 9, 2007 11:15 AM: " What can I say? Cheers, accolades, bravo, and thank you so much! " Amother opiniion wrote on May 9, 2007 10:55 AM: " So Mr. McGovern wants to live like one of the people whose income requires food stamps? Guess what, those people don't get invited to the Mayflower Hotel. They are stopped at the entrance by suspiscious door men. They don't have access to the Washington elite. Try living like that. " Skeptic wrote on May 9, 2007 8:41 AM: " Living on $3.00 a day? Sounds like the congressman just upped his personal expenditures by ...um let me see... oh $3.00 a day. Congressmen can eat for free all day long sponging off of lobbyists and political supporters. So who is he trying to impress? I've been to the Mayflower Hotel. They will charge him $3.00 for that water. Plus tip. " Chet wrote on May 9, 2007 8:30 AM: " Wow James McGovern is going to try to leave like one of the people he represents. He always seems to get his name in the paper and never does anything. If case anybody was wondering U.S. Representives make $165,200 a year. (James McGovern reported that his net worth is between 800,000 - 4,999,999) Is it possible for us to elect someone that is in tune with the working class " or
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