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SNAP cuts misplaced, says consumer econ professor

A University of Illinois consumer economics professor says proposed cuts to the “SNAP” nutrition program are misplaced.

Craig Gunderson, who’s been studying the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and its effects on food insecurity for years, says SNAP is a very successful program that contracts and expands as needed, “As more people are in need, it automatically expands. During good economic times, it automatically contracts. What have been proposed with these cuts is to say, cut back on the SIZE. And in the process, is for those who need it – most of whom need it only temporarily for about 10 months – is they would be the ones that would be kicked off the program.”

President Trump has proposed a 25-percent cut to the program of nearly 200-Billion dollars.

Gunderson says food insecurity contributes to poor health which leads to higher health care costs, “I’m not going to make the argument that for every dollar spent on SNAP, it leaves more than a dollar reduction in health care costs, but I WILL make the argument that whenever we give people SNAP is it does help to reduce health care costs. And, therefore, that should be considered in any discussion about the impact of SNAP.”

Gunderson says farm support programs and food assistance programs are all seeking the same goal and should remain together in the Farm Bill.