Who knew that New Mexico had it's very own SPLC wanna be "Law Center".

Tempers flare over proposed food stamps changes

By Matt Howerton
Published 9:28 AM MDT Jul 09, 2015

Watch the Video report at the link .

Participants in a town hall meeting in Albuquerque Wednesday night protested newly proposed changes that would affect food stamp recipients across the state.

The Human Services Department is considering changing the requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

Adults without children already are required to either have a job or prove that they're actively looking for one. The new proposals would require unemployed people with children older than 6 to perform 80 hours of community service each month.

Many oppose the proposed changes, including the state's Conference of Bishops.

The conference, which includes Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester and the bishops of Gallup and Las Cruces, believes that the changes would make it harder for New Mexico families to survive.

A spokesperson for the Conference of Bishops, along with organizers from the SouthWest Organizing Project and the New Mexico Center on Law & Poverty, were at the meeting.

Many SNAP recipients also attended and voiced their disapproval of the proposed changes.

Amber Diaz, who attended the meeting with her son, who is older than 6, receives SNAP benefits but has a full-time job.

She said she wouldn't know what to do if the changes went into effect and she was unemployed.

"I just think it's not right all around," Diaz said.

"Where do you find the time to volunteer? It's really difficult, especially if you're a single parent and have no family here to take care of or babysit your child."

Videos and photos of the meeting will be sent to the Human Services Department, along with paper plates signed by SNAP recipients pleading with the state to change its course.

A public forum on the changes is scheduled for July 17 at the Human Services Department in Santa Fe.