REFORMS AFFECT FOOD STAMPS

The U.S. House Agriculture Committee Wednesday approved a bill that would reform the nation's $27 billion food stamp program and could impact more than 5,000 Cape Girardeau County residents who depend on the welfare system to buy groceries.

The measure is a key part of the GOP's welfare reform plan, which is expected to be debated by the full House this month.

The committee approved the reform package on an almost party-line vote, 26-18. U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson voted for the measure. The vote came around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday following more than 15 hours of debate.

Emerson, a Republican, said the measure would cut food stamp spending by $16 billion over the next five years and tighten controls to prevent waste and abuse.

It would allow states to operate food stamp programs under federal block grants if they use a credit-card system called an electronic benefits transfer rather than coupons.

It would hold automatic cost-of-living adjustments to 2 percent annually and require able-bodied persons, ages 18-50 without dependents, to work in order to receive food stamps.

Democrats portrayed the reforms as cruel to the poor. The Clinton administration put the cost of the changes at $24 billion and contended that the value of food stamps would erode over five years to a point below what is necessary to meet a family's most basic nutritional needs.

But Emerson said in a telephone interview from Washington: "There is no intention to punish anyone for anything, but to have a tight program that helps real people who need real help and to eliminate fraud, abuse and trafficking."

Emerson said a credit-card system is vital to reducing food stamp fraud.

"Cash isn't any good and coupons aren't much better," he said. "They lend themselves to a great deal of fraud."

Emerson, of Cape Girardeau, said people sell food stamps for 60 cents on the dollar to get money for drugs and alcohol. Food stamp fraud totals more than $1.8 billion a year.

Maryland currently is the only state with a credit-card food stamp system. Other states like Missouri are interested in it, Emerson said.

In Cape Girardeau, many of Del Farm National supermarket's customers pay for their groceries with food stamps.

Joe Young, the store's assistant manager, said that replacing coupons with an electronic card system would help reduce fraud.

He said the supermarket's scanners automatically divide grocery items into those that can be paid for with food stamps and those that can't.

The store is equipped to handle regular credit cards and could easily adapt to a credit-card food stamp program, Young said.

Nationally, 28 million Americans receive food stamps.

The average food stamp benefit is $170 a month per household and $69 a month per person. More than 87 percent of food stamp households also receive other forms of government assistance.

Last year more than 5,400 Cape Girardeau County residents were on the food stamp program. In fiscal 1994, nearly 600,000 Missourians received food stamps totaling more than $480 million.

Emerson said he and other Republican lawmakers want to consolidate many of the nation's welfare programs.

"We don't need 125 separate programs," he said, adding that the programs need simplifying and automating. "Modern technology will help clean up the system."

Social service administrators like Shirley Linley would welcome a streamlined welfare system. Linley is acting director of the Missouri Division of Family Services office in Cape Girardeau County, which deals with food stamps, Aid to Families with Dependent Children and other welfare programs.

"Nothing is consistent in any of the programs that you could apply for," she said.

The differing policies and procedures are confusing to Family Services personnel and applicants alike, she said.

FOOD STAMP REFORM

Food stamp reforms approved by the House Agriculture Committee Wednesday. It would:

Cut food stamp spending by $16 billion over the next five years, according to Republican estimates.

Allow states to use one set of rules for families applying for food stamps and Aid to Families with Dependent Children.

Tighten controls to prevent waste and abuse. Currently, $1.8 billion a year is wasted due to errors and fraud.

Authorize forfeiture-of-property legislation to stop criminals from profiting from the food stamp program.

Deny food stamps to non-citizens.

Allow states to operate a food stamp program under a federal block grant if they use a credit-card type system called an "electronic benefits transfer" rather than food stamp coupons. Maryland is currently the only state with such a system.

Hold automatic food stamp cost-of-living adjustments to 2 percent a year.