The crunch comes as the U.S. economy takes a sharp turn for the worse and many see the number of people receiving food stamps as advance indicator of an economic slump.

Today, food stamp officials are not only watching more people apply for the benefits, they're seeing more of them come from the working poor, people whose low-wage jobs still leave them eligible under the program's strict income caps.

"House and Senate lawmakers, forging a final compromise on a giant agriculture law, now plan to add over $10 billion to the food stamp program over the next decade, raising the standard income deduction, boosting the minimum benefit to $14 a month, an increase of $4, and giving more to food pantry donations."

At the same time Congress will increase the subsidy for corn to ethanol and set a higher target for ethanol production. Crops such as wheat and soybeans won't be planted because corn is more lucrative

The situation is only going to get worse

Instead of admitting they have made a mistake, Congress simply adds more money to the food stamp program