House Approves Cut In Food Stamp Spending - How Did Your Elected Officials Vote?

In a vote that will adversely affect those relying on food stamps, House Republicans approved "a sweeping overhaul to the nation's food stamp program." The cuts would take $39 billion from the program, thus cutting aid to approximately 4 million people over the next few years, The Washington Post reports.

House Majority Leader Eric I. Cantor (R-Va.) orchestrated strategy to separate funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, of food stamps, from the farm bill. While Cantor acknowledged that many food stamp recipients need assistance, the cuts are required because many people "choose to abuse the system," adding "...[I]t's wrong for hard-working middle-class Americans to pay for that."

Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) stated that the stiffer work requirements would mean "you can no longer sit on your couch...and expect the federal tax payer to feed you."

The House voted 217 to 210.

So, who voted for and against the food stamp bill? Click here for The Washington Post's article on how the vote went.

Unhappy with how your representative voted? Call his or her office, make your voice heard, and remember to vote...

Bay of Pigs' Secret History

How long does information need to remain classified? Sometimes, the answer is fairly obvious: If attacked, we don't necessarily want the attacker to know when, where, and what kind of retaliatory measures will occur. Other times, the information may remained classified beyond its necessity.

In an article first printed in the Washington Post and then reprinted in the Miami Herald, George Will writes that the CIA is holding "only a small amount of still-classified information" dealing with the Bay of Pigs. As with so many events, the 1961 invasion influenced several subsequent events. According to Will, the Bay of Pigs led to the U.S. deepening its involvement in Vietnam, the Cuban Missile Crisis, as well as making "a cameo appearance in the Watergate shambles..."

Meanwhile, fifty-two years after the invasion, the CIA is still holds still-classified information on the Bay of Pigs, while the National Security Archive argues that there is "no important government interest is served" by keeping the information classified.

To read the article in its entirety, click here.

Could Your Shampoo Be Putting Your Health At Risk?

Do you know what's in your shampoo? Unless you have a degree in biochemistry, you might have no clue what the ingredients listed on your shampoo bottle really are, or how dangerous they might be. An independent study sponsored by the Center for Environmental Health claimed that the carcinogenic chemical cocamide DEA was found in 98 shampoo products, the Palm Beach Post reports. Among the shampoos listed were several name-brand shampoos, products listed as "organic," as well as shampoos marketed for children.

To read the complete article, click here. To ready the Center for Environmental Health article, which includes a list of the products containing cocamide DEA, click here.