Food Stamps Safe?

I wrote on Monday about budget cuts to food stamps in order to offset Katrina relief. It appears now that food stamps are off the table for cuts. Hooray! This from Jim Wallace:

Finally, a victory. This week, Congress reconvened after its Columbus Day recess, with the budget reconciliation bill the first item of business - the complicated process of deciding on tax and budget cuts. On Tuesday, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) introduced his "chairman's mark" of proposed budget cuts. To the surprise of many, the expected $574 million cut in the Food Stamp Program was not included - no cuts in food stamps! News reports indicate that objections from several committee Republicans, including Rick Santorum (Pa.), Jim Talent (Mo.), and Norm Coleman (Minn.), along with Democrats, prompted the change. All of these senators are from states where faith-based organizations and leaders were actively pressing their elected representatives not to cut crucial service programs for the poor, including many Sojourners and Call to Renewal partners and allies who contacted their senators during the recess. As always, there were other factors, too, such as county commissioners and clergy in Georgia who told Sen. Chambliss their people couldn't survive without food stamps. Our religious voices were heard.

I've been challenged to think about the role of government in helping the poor by a friend and may have more to write about that as soon as I have something cogent to say. For now, though, check out Call to Renewal. That seems to be a positive direction in which to move.