Tom Colicchio Goes to Bat Against Food Stamp Cuts in Farm Bill

Tom Colicchio Goes to Bat Against Food Stamp Cuts in Farm Bill

Reading yesterday’s New York Times, the phrase “prospects for passage of a new farm bill before the end of the year appear dim” sounds, on the surface, like it would have little effect on anyone who’s not, well, a farmer.

But read further, and you’ll see that food stamps are the reason for the logjam in Congress: “A House proposal would cut about $40 billion from the program, while a Senate version would trim roughly $4.5 billion.” Republicans and Democrats remain extraordinarily far apart on the issue, as this video on “All in with Chris Hayes” drives home, and are about to enter a new calendar year without the issue resolved—this after food stamp cuts were made just this fall.

One of the experts on Hayes’ show is chef, “Top Chef” überjudge, and activist Tom Colicchio, who produced a documentary about American hunger called “A Place at the Table.” He delivers a few eloquent zingers starting about 3:30 in this video: “What I’m really concerned about here is that we are no longer investing in our more precious commodity, and that is people.” Also: “We [need to] start changing the conversation and talk about how we’re gonna invest in the future, invest in our children and send them to school with food in their bellies so they actually can learn.”

The issue isn’t getting a lot of play in the food press, but if you have something to say to your Senator or Congressperson, you can go here or here. And if you’d like to donate to help the hungry, here are two organizations where you can do so.

[MSNBC via The Braiser]