The four nonprofit groups that stock food charities across Massachusetts are asking Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration to boost aid in the face of declining federal funds, higher food prices, and rising demand, according to the Boston Herald.

The groups, which serve hundreds of food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens, are seeking $15-million in state support in fiscal year 2013, up from $11.5-million this year.

Reductions in Department of Agriculture food aid are set to worsen with the failure of the congressional “super committee” to reach an agreement on federal spending, said Catherine D’Amato, head of the Greater Boston Food Bank.

Advocates say state money, which has remained flat since 2007, has declined in value as the cost of staple foods has risen and demand has gone up by nearly a quarter.

Scott Soares, the state’s commissioner of agricultural resources, said the…

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Continued welfare cutbacks in California are raising concerns among recipients who are seeing benefits reduced or eliminated while the bad economy depresses their prospects for getting off assistance and into jobs, says the Associated Press.

California has shrunk welfare payments, trimmed the period recipients can get aid from 60 to 48 months, and cut spending on job-training and education programs for people on welfare. Some Republican lawmakers have called for further cuts, saying the state can’t afford what has been one of the nation’s most generous welfare programs.

“By the time someone is on welfare for 48 months, I think they’re trained to be on that system,” said Assemblyman Brian Jones. “I think we need to make it more attractive in California to get folks off of welfare instead of onto it.”

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