Democrats are poised to pass a bill today that will provide $26 billion in additional funding to help states cover Medicaid expenses and teacher salaries. To pay for the bill, however, they are accelerating the scale-back of food stamp payments — at a time when a record number of Americans are relying on food stamps.

From the NY Times: A decade ago, New York City officials were so reluctant to give out food stamps, they made people register one day and return the next just to get an application.