Politicians take food stamp challenge to call attention to program

Rep. Jackie Speier, a Democrat from Hillsborough, Calif., went hungry on purpose the first week of November. She described her sparse diet as "humbling and difficult."

Speier joined other Democrats in a "food stamp challenge" campaign. They lived on $4.50 a day to call attention to possible cuts in the federal food stamp supplemental program. About 44 million poor people depend on this assistance, but if supercommittee member Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama has his way, the program will be chopped significantly.

Read more about Speier's grocery shopping efforts from Catholic San Francisco.