But I have said all along that Texans are a compassionate people who will help those who can't truly help themselves.
Food stamps are a federal program.
In welfare reform legislation passed last year, Congress allowed elderly and disabled legal immigrants to continue receiving some benefits, such as Medicaid, but stopped food stamps. That law cut approximately 121,000 legal immigrants in Texas off the food stamp rolls, including 28,000 elderly and disabled. Bush criticized that move. To restore the food assistance, Bush said, the Texas Department of Human Services will utilize the state's electronic benefits transfer card, known as the Lone Star Card. Bush said the money will come from savings realized by the reduction in welfare cases that has occurred under a new state law requiring welfare recipients to find jobs.