Ebenezer Johanns
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2007
Contact: Eric Fought
(402) 434-2184
eric@nebraskademocrats.org
Ebenezer Johanns
LINCOLN, Neb. – As Christmas quickly approaches, many Nebraskans will find it difficult to make ends meet. Due to the failed policies and programs of the Bush administration, more Nebraskans are in need of assistance – assistance that is slow in arriving and insufficient to meet increasing needs.
Food banks throughout the country, including organizations throughout Nebraska, are having trouble keeping their shelves stocked this winter. Demand for food has increased this year due to sky-rocketing gas prices, higher housing rates, and a cold start to the winter, resulting in longer lines at food banks. Despite the increase in need, the USDA is actually distributing less surplus food commodities to food banks.
Mike Johanns and the USDA ignored the trends leading up to this crisis situation, doing absolutely nothing to increase the assistance to food banks. As a matter of fact, “supplies from the surplus program dropped to $67 million worth last year, from $154 million in 2005 and $233 million in 2004.” [New York Times, 11/30/07]
The farm bill, the USDA Secretary’s most important responsibility, includes increases in funding for this program. However, Johanns walked away from the bill, leaving the nation’s neediest without food.
“These surplus programs help not only the homeless among us, but many working families who struggle to make ends meet,” said Matt Connealy, Executive Director of the Nebraska Democratic Party. “This Christmas, many will go without because of Mike Johanns’ lack of leadership.”