And third was the Great Recession, which led both to a collapse in revenue and to a sharp rise in spending on unemployment insurance and other safety-net programs.

"I want to take on getting these safety-net programs properly structured in a businesslike fashion," he said.

Like many states, Missouri is asking managers of local safety-net programs to prepare to accommodate the reduction.

A bipartisan agreement on the safety-net programs would have an added advantage for Republicans, removing a losing issue in the 2000 Presidential race.

Because of the Federal cutbacks in the 80's and 90's," she said, "safety-net programs such as food stamps have been decreased.

It declared them ineligible for many kinds of cash and nutritional aid, even though legal immigrants pay taxes to support safety-net programs like everyone else.

Rather, it's that various safety-net programs over the years have made not working a viable way of life, especially for young workers and those who are approaching retirement.

So, in Senator Oppenheimer's district, the money tends to go, in small pieces, to safety-net programs for the most disadvantaged and to little else.

There is concern, too, that other safety-net programs like welfare and foster care may be letting troubled families fall off their rolls into the homeless system.

HOT's primary focus is to support essential safety-net programs addressing hunger, poverty, health care and disaster relief.