The front-page article "Dairy farmers await passage of farm bill," Nov. 17, includes a passing mention of the fact that the food stamp program also is funded in this bill.
In the last 10 years, the percentage of people living below the poverty line and eligible for food stamp assistance, or SNAP as it is called, has risen from 12 percent to 15 percent. Meanwhile, the cost of the program has risen 400 percent. The cost of SNAP now represents almost 80 percent of the entire 2012 farm bill.
Perhaps this is the reason that Congress is now scrambling to pass or extend what should rightfully be called the food stamp bill.
ART DONAHUE
East Greenbush
