I cannot believe it has to be said: Cutting food stamps, known as Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), by 30 percent is a terrible idea.Letter to the Editor: Cutting food stamps by 30 percent is a terrible idea

Dear Editor,

I cannot believe it has to be said: Cutting the Food Stamp program known as (SNAP) by 30 percent is a terrible idea. Instead, we should be increasing benefits for poor children and their families so they can eat.

A recent study found that in 99 percent of counties across the U.S. (including all 29 counties in Utah), SNAP’s maximum per-meal benefit is less than the average cost of meals low-income households purchase. In fact, that benefit is on average 30 percent too low — and the President’s budget would double that gap. Currently, the maximum per-meal benefit is $1.86. Can you feed your family on that?

Join me in contacting our Utah Congressional Delegation and tell them to oppose cuts to SNAP and to instead support raising the baseline benefit amount for SNAP.

Sincerely,

David P. Billings

Salt Lake City

The viewpoints expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Independent.

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