The decision, made public Wednesday, means some 100,000 Oregon households won’t see their food stamp benefits decline after all. They were expected to lose benefits averaging $58 a month.
"It was a decision the governor made to ensure low-income families don't see their already minimal food budgets cut," said Rachel Wray, a spokeswoman for the governor.
Kitzhaber follows the governors of New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania in deciding to change the way the state allocates federal energy-assistance dollars to avoid the farm bill cuts.
The farm bill included cuts to food stamps through a program called “Heat and Eat” that’s used in 15 states. Participants who received at least $1 a year in federal energy assistance also got an increase in food stamps. The farm bill requires states to devote at least $20.
Now Oregon will allocate $2 million in additional energy aid to meet the new threshold -- and to avoid losing about $56 million a year in food stamps, said Christy Sinatra, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Human Services.
New York will spend $6 million to keep $547 million.
The tactic has become controversial nationally, with critics calling it a “loophole” that blue-leaning states are exploiting to “leverage” their money. Some now question whether the farm bill, which included $8 billion in food stamp cuts over 10 years, will see much savings.