The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report Monday that says the ability of states to expand eligibility for federal food stamps made about 473,000 more people eligible for food stamps, and added about $460 million in extra costs in 2010. The GAO also said this increased expansion has increased the chances of fraud and abuse of the food stamp program.
The report was requested by Senate Budget Committee ranking member Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and leaders of the House Agriculture Committee, in light of dramatically rising costs to administer the $70 billion Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp program.
GAO found that eligibility for SNAP has more than doubled in the last decade, which its costs have nearly quadrupled. And while GAO said the recent recession has contributed to increased eligibility and increased costs for the program, the ability of states to expand eligibility for the program is also a significant factor.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
