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15% of Americans Use Food Stamps

Mississippi leads the way, with 21% of residents on the rolls

By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 2, 2011 10:52 AM CDT

(Newser) – A record 45.8 million people—that's a staggering 15% of Americans—sustained themselves via food stamps in August, reports the Wall Street Journal. That number was up 1.1% over July, notes Business Week, and 8.1% over the year prior. In terms of sheer numbers, Texas and California had the most residents on the rolls, with 4.12 million and 3.82 million, respectively; but percentage-wise, Mississippi led the way with more than 21% of its population. Louisiana, New Mexico, Oregon, and Tennessee all had 20% of their populations on food stamps.

Saad Hopkins, entering the University of Washington as a junior in the fall, gets groceries at the University District Food Bank Tuesday, July 15, 2008, in Seattle.
Saad Hopkins, entering the University of Washington as a junior in the fall, gets groceries at the University District Food Bank Tuesday, July 15, 2008, in Seattle.   (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 85 comments
Chitrix
Nov 3, 2011 10:32 AM CDT
Thanks to Repubs many more will soon join the ranks
Watching4theMODS
Nov 2, 2011 10:45 PM CDT
Let me guess half of the people on food stamps are Republicans bitching it's the Dems fault!!!
Watching4theMODS
Nov 2, 2011 10:41 PM CDT
The Bush GOP depression a category five economic collapse. The only thing that saved us was voting the Republicans out in 2008 and the Dems in.
 

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