AP: Obamacare Leads to Growth in Food Stamp Dependency

I think it is cute how the AP acts "surprised" that massive government dependency initiatives beget greater reliance on other government handout programs. What did they think would happen when the government simultaneously bolstered advertising for the benefits of food stamps while streamlining the application process for folks who'd like to double or triple dip into various taxpayer handouts? 

This is from Carla Johnson and David Mercer writing for the AP:

President Barack Obama’s health care law has had a surprising side effect: In some states, it appears to be enticing more Americans to apply for food stamps, even as the economy improves. 

New, streamlined application systems built for the health care overhaul are making it easier for people to enroll in government benefit programs, including insurance coverage and food stamps. 

[State enrollment increases range] from 1 percent to 6 percent over two years, according to an Associated Press analysis.... [Nevada] shot up 14 percent. 

West Virginia’s food-stamp enrollment increased 4 percent after a Medicaid expansion that was part of the health care changes. Enrollment jumped because people were “more engaged with our systems and more aware what they’re eligible for,” said Jeremiah Samples of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.