White House accused of stalling hunger report [View All]

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USDA denies figures being delayed until after election

AP - Updated: 36 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Democrats are blaming politics for the Bush administration's decision to wait until after the election to issue a report on hunger in the United States.

The Agriculture Department report has generally been released in October, a month after annual poverty figures are released by the Census Bureau. The report has shown steady increases in the number of people struggling with hunger, from 31 million in 1999 to 38 million in 2004.

Democrats on Wednesday accused the White House of a politically motivated delay. Competitive elections across the country will decide next week whether President Bush's party keeps control of Congress.

USDA officials said the report has long been set for a mid-November release and that the delay is not political.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15528296/