Kulongoski goes on $21 food stamp shopping trip
SALEM, Ore. - Oregon's governor went shopping Tuesday as part of his effort to live on food stamps for a week.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski was trying to better understand the challenges of feeding a family nutritiously on $21 a week - the average amount spent by a person on food stamps in Oregon.
He was able to buy 19 items for just under $21 at a Salem Fred Meyer store.
Kulongoski was joined by a state worker and mother of three who is on food stamps and whose husband was laid off more than a year ago.
"To me it's very admirable that he's taken, even though it's a small walk, he's still taken a walk in our shoes, and that's a better way to relate to the people of your state," said the woman, Christina Davenport.
Together she and the governor navigated the aisles looking for items on sale and discounted items that were near their expiration date.
Though the event drew a lot of media attention, the governor said it was not just a stunt.
"If I thought this is what it took to get this issue out to the public and tell them how important it is, I don't care what they call it, I'd do it every week," he said.
It took the governor an hour to shop. Some of the items he bought included peanut butter and jelly for sandwiches, generic macaroni and cheese, cheese slices and bananas.
Kulongoski had to bypass two of his favorite things - Tillamook ice cream and berries. He said he eats fresh berries every morning. He'll be replacing that with bananas that he bought for 49 cents a pound.
The governor's challenge comes at a politically delicate juncture for the food stamp program.
The Bush administration has proposed several cuts, among them taking away food stamps from about 185-thousand people because they receive other non-cash government assistance.
Kulongoski, a Democrat, plans to lobby Congress to restore the proposed funding cuts.
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Here's a list of what the governor bought:
3 Bananas (.66)
2 Zucchini (1.10)
2 Cup-O-Noodles (.67)
1 Gallon of Milk (1.00 - on clearance)
1 Can of Garbanzo Beans (.79)
1 Can of Kidney Beans (.49)
1 10 lb bag of Potatoes (.99)
1 Can of Tomatoes (.59)
1 Jar of Peanut Butter (2.50)
1 Jar of Grape Jelly (1.89)
1 Large Container of Plain Yogurt (1.25)
1 Small Chicken (3.06)
3 Boxes of Macaroni and Cheese (1.00)
1 Package of Imitation Cheese Slices (.99)
1 Loaf of Bread (1.00 - with coupon)
1 Box of Granola (2.99)
Total: $20.97
The Associated Press contributed to this report.