EC: If you’ve never applied for food stamps, it takes guts to show up at the food stamp office. But George Manalo-LeClair, a food stamp specialist, says the assistance program’s been re-cast.

George Manalo-LeClair: It really has distanced itself from its welfare past.  It has now recognized that it needs to get out in the communities, get out in health clinics  :07.2

EC: About 300 legislative analysts, food stamp administrators and budget advisors convened yesterday at the Crest Theater in downtown Sacramento for a food stamp forum. Manalo-LeClair envisions the food stamp program as a nutrition enabler. :07

GML: One of the things we hear from low-income people is that it’s very difficult to afford nutritious foods.

EC: The term low-income now extends to those recently axed from high-paying jobs. To inspire healthier choices, one proposal before the California legislature would work like this: For every dollar a food stamp recipient spends on broccoli, 30 cents would be rebated to the account. Eligibility for food stamps starts with a family of three making an annual salary of about $24,000. I’m Elaine Corn, Capital Public Radio News.