Breakdown of Federal Expenditures:

Food and Nutrition Assistance

Amount % of Budget

Food Stamps: $25.6B 1.69%

Child Nutrition

& Milk Prog. 7.5B .49%

Supp. Feeding

Prog. (WIC) 3.4B .22%

Total 36.5B 2.40%

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Let’s take a look at some of the “welfare” programs, namely Food and Nutrition Assistance. The Food Stamp program in 1995 required $25.6 billion and totaled 1.69% of the federal budget. The Child Nutrition and Milk Program (school lunches) ran $7.5 billion and represent .49% of the federal budget. The Supplemental Feeding Program (WIC) which targets only families with children cost $3.4 billion and represents .22% of the total budget. These three programs together cost $36.5 billion and represented 2.40% of the budget.

Cut them? You tell me what you want to do. I want you to start cutting the budget in order to get the budget balanced. Remember, we have to find $163.9 billion dollars in this budget to cut. I want you to play the roll of an elected representative that wishes to remain in office another term. Therefore, you will have to be aware of how your constituents will be affected by your decisions. I would like you to e-mail me with your recommendations on cuts, and I will try to assume a roll as an objective consultant in terms of the potential costs and benefits of your recommendations.