That makes them more likely to decouple, notes Chad Stone, chief economist with the CBPP.

FORBES: Magazine Article

But at least 21 states have cut back their health programmes, according to the CBPP.

ECONOMIST: State budgets in crisis

Food-stamp participation rose by 45% between December 2007 and December 2009, CBPP calculates, while the number of families receiving cash grants under TANF, a block-grant scheme, rose by just 13%.

ECONOMIST: Food stamps