Monday's a dog.[source unknown]

Oregon's Governor Ted Kulongoski's Phood Budget

Governor Ted Kulongoski and his wife, Mary Oberst, are planning to spend a week living on food stamps.

And no, he's not angling for a raise.

It's part of a program to draw attention to Oregon's hunger problem, and the food insecurity experienced by many low-income families. A number of other lawmakers were planning to do the same thing.

A week's worth of food stamps works out to about $21 a person, so the governor and his wife will have $42 to spend for the week.

"I challenge all Oregonians to experience first-hand what thousands of Oregon families go through everyday," said Governor Kulongoski. "Budgeting just $1 a meal each day for food, and trying to make that food nutritious, is a difficult task that sadly is a reality for too many Oregonians and their families." KGW Link

To put this in perspective...I receive a monthly Social Security Disabilty payment of less than $900 and I get $24 a month (yes, a month) in food stamps to feed myself. Fortunately, I now live in a community where there is a great food co-op where i can purchase nutritious staples without the usual mark up of grocery stores. Still, it is a challenge to eat every month and if I have unexpected costs I go to a food bank.