House Committee to Review Policy on Food Stamps

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – A Kansas House committee is reviewing a new

policy that reduced or cut off food stamp benefits to hundreds of

U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants.

The Appropriations Committee was planning Monday to question

Michelle Schroeder, public policy director for the Kansas

Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.

An SRS policy enacted Oct. 1 changed how household incomes are

calculated for determining eligibility for food stamps. SRS

officials have said the change ended a practice that favored

families with illegal immigrants.

Legislators say they’re sympathetic to the goal, but some say

the state could attack the problem without cutting off food stamps

to children.

SRS says about 2,000 children have lost food stamp benefits

since Oct. 1.