If the predicted removal of that many people failed to change minds, it's because the public thinks many beneficiaries don't deserve the benefits they record. Asked what the biggest problem with food stamps was, 66 percent of people said there was "too much waste, fraud, and abuse"—by far the most popular of the five options listed.
Another 12 percent said too many people were eligible to receive assistance.
Only 6 percent of respondents said too few were on the program, while 9 percent said the benefits were too small.
National Journal poll showing almost all parties in support of new rules for the nation's food-stamp program; however, Democrats' views are split down the middle. (Stephanie Stamm)Driven by a strong sense the food-stamp program is rife with abuse, two-thirds of Americans say they want to make it harder for people to receive assistance by requiring recipients to be drug-free and looking for work.
A National Journal poll found broad support for tightened eligibility. Even Democrats, traditionally resistant to limiting access to social-welfare programs, are split: 45 percent of them support the change while 49 percent do not.
The results suggest that the country welcomes Republican efforts to cut and reform the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a rarity for a party at odds with public opinion on issues like gun control, entitlement reform, and immigration. Democrats' opposition, meanwhile, shows they're squarely out of step with the public.
Respondents were asked how they felt about changes to the food-stamp program like tightening eligibility, limiting how long beneficiaries can collect, increasing work requirements, and administering drug tests. They were told the Congressional Budget Office estimated such changes would reduce its rolls by 4 million people.
