Yet another reason I like my Congressman

[pegkerr]

Keith Ellison is one of the thirteen Democratic members of Congress who is taking the Food Stamp Challenge, i.e., eating on a budget of about $4.50 a day to show solidarity with food stamp recipients who receive $32.59 a week. The personal thrift is part of a challenge organized by Fighting Poverty With Faith.

Food stamps have been a target of Republican-led budget cuts. House Budget Committee Chair Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) proposed transfering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, into a block grant program administered by the states.

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) recently told ABC's "Top Line" that the food stamp program was "out of control" and being abused by "multimillion-dollar lottery winners." (After a Michigan man drew attention for still receiving food stamps despite winning the lottery, state lawmakers began asking recipients about their financial assets.)

The number of people relying on food stamps has risen as a consequence of the recession. Over 40 million individuals and 19 million households used the program in 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The participants are:

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT)
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Rep. Donna Christensen (D-Virgin Islands)
Rep. Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL)
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA)
Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA)
Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL)
Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH)
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

Representative Joe Courtney has been blogging and tweeting about the experience.

(No Republicans have signed up. Gee, I wonder why?)