Ms Eschmann administers the federal programmes supposed to help, including food stamps, Medicaid and cash assistance.

ECONOMIST: Poverty looms for the long-term unemployed

Mr Romney has embraced the budget of Paul Ryan, the Republican chairman of the Budget Committee in the House of Representatives, which promises steep cuts in federal entitlements, including food stamps and Medicaid, and the replacement of traditional Medicare for the old with cheaper vouchers.

ECONOMIST: The size of the state

Entitlement reforms should be based on extending the enormously successful, bipartisan, 1996 AFDC block grant reforms to all federal, means tested, welfare programs, including Medicaid and food stamps.

FORBES: For The Republicans There's An Opportunity At The Fiscal Cliff

Higher unemployment and lower wages also mean increased spending on means tested transfer payments including unemployment benefits and food stamps.

FORBES: The Growth Recession On President Obama's Watch Continues

The Senate bill would also extend unemployment insurance, and senators are expected to try to add more proposals, including an increase in food stamps, heating assistance for low-income Americans and more spending on infrastructure projects.

NPR: What the Fed Rate Cut Means for Consumers

There has been a surge in American citizens on welfare over the last four years, including a 50-percent increase in people on food stamps (from 32 to 47 million).

FORBES: In France's Welfare State Status Quo, Are We Seeing America's Future?

Recognize that this figure excludes all the other so-called non-discretionary payments (unemployment, food stamps, etc.) as well as everything else the government does including the military and Obamacare.

FORBES: Responding to Obama's Budget Plan