Food stamps cost taxpayers $80 billion a year, but how those funds are spent by the recipient remains largely unknown
Food stamps can be spent on goods ranging from candy to steak and are accepted at retailers from gas stations that primarily sell potato chips to fried-chicken restaurants. And as the amount spent on food stamps has more than doubled in recent years, the amount of food stamps laundered into cash has increased dramatically, government statistics show.
Information regarding how and where the funds are distributed apparently can’t be released due to federal rules.
When a FOIA attempt was made to state officials in Maryland — the request was denied: “the information belonged to the federal government, which instructed states not to release it”. Furthermore, when the Washington Times inquired about how and where the food stamps funds are disbursed, the Times was offered the information — for $125,ooo. The USDA also keeps the program under tight wraps, and would not disclose any information.
The Washington Times concluded,
As a result, fraud is hard to track and the efficacy of the massive program is impossible to evaluate.
So there you have it — your tax dollars, unaccounted for. Surprised?
UPDATE: “>The USDA suggests Food Stamp Parties and games to increase participation