Posted on 09/11/2013 5:49:56 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
GOP bill would ban using food stamp funds on junk food
Eric Pfeiffer, Yahoo! News Eric Pfeiffer, Yahoo! News 2 hours ago The Sideshow
Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., has proposed a bill to ban using food stamp funds on junk food. (AP)
Newly proposed legislation in Congress would ban recipients of food stamps from buying junk food.
The Hill reports that a bill proposed by Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., would require food stamp recipients to purchase only healthy food.
The Healthy Food Choices Act, H.R. 3073 is the latest salvo from Republican members of Congress who have criticized the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps or the Women, Infants and Children program (WIC).
In August, it was reported that House Republicans hoped to cut some $40 billion from future SNAP budgets.
Roes legislation is specifically in response to a 2012 study, which showed that recipients from the food stamp fund spend approximately $2 billion a year on junk food.
As a physician, I realize the importance of healthy eating, and as an obstetrician, Ive seen how the WIC program helps empower families receiving assistance to use taxpayer dollars to purchase healthy, wholesome foods, Roe said in a statement published on his congressional site. If these guidelines are good and healthy enough for women and children, then SNAP recipients should also benefit from adhering to the same standards.
In June, Roe voted in favor of proposed legislation that would apply work to welfare standards to food stamp fund recipients.
Critics of Roes proposal say that the tighter nutritional requirements would actually be more of a burden for low-income individuals and families who rely on SNAP funds. They also point out that Roe previously opposed efforts by first lady Michelle Obama to improve national school lunch nutritional standards.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
“...a 2012 study, which showed that recipients from the food stamp fund spend approximately $2 billion a year on junk food”
It’s much, much (munch, munch?) more than that LOL!
A great idea, I’d guess a $10 billion savings in the $80 billion annual Snap bill.
And no one suffers.
Cookie and cola producers and the media they advertise in will never let it happen.
Somebody be havin a party!
Lobster, steak, and Mountain Dew! One of my favorite meals.
I would love to know how this myth originated........because it is just not true.
Au Contraire, Mon Ami....I don't know what part of the planet you live on, but inner-city tribal parasites regularly frequent "convienience stores" in the ghettos, where obliging merchants give them whatever they want, and discount the value of the EBT to skim off profits.
If you're ever in Cleveland, just stop by in the eastern downtown area, and see for yourself.
The MYTH is that these EBT's aren't used in Casino's, lounges, etc., or used on the street to exchange for CASH, to buy crack cocaine.
I've SEEN IT, and it's pervasive in the big cities.
So no “junk” food yet Lobster Tails and Sirloin is no problem?
Exactly. Push the program down to the state level and simply start issuing them FOOD. Much of the “need” will evaporate when copious amounts of rice, beans and canned turnips are made available to the masses.
Makes it a little hard to fault Nanny Bloomberg. Knowing what to do about Congress is as complicated as Syria. They are all the enemy.
Time to start issuing the poor canned food. Soups, rice and beans last a long time.
Yeah; that will be as effective as the "nutritious" school lunch program, where they shovel the food in the dumpster every day because none of the kids want it.
Open soup kitchens, no EBT's or Food Stamps, and if you wanna eat on someone else's dime (Taxpayers), you eat there or go hungry.
How about ALL Public Assistance being available ONLY to those who submit to drug-testing, and random drug-testing, and if found to be a user, you lose the Benefits for life?
Nope, need to start somewhere cutting people off so why not do exactly what the left does and cut them off “for the children”.
We need to cut off the junk food “it’s for the children”.
We need to cut off high priced steaks and lobster so they can buy more food “for the children”.
Just keep slicing the bologna piece by piece and pretty soon the freeloaders will be eating “healthy” beans and rice like the rest of us.
You’ll be amazed how much your food bill comes down when the freeloaders aren’t buying the choice foods with no concern for cost.
The Farmers’ Rent-Seeking Union would never allow it.
It is really silly to use your SNAP card to buy some Red Bulls and candy bars, but who ever accused these low information types of being smart? That explains why the poor in America are fatter than the rich.
Like your daughter, I needed them temporarily not that long ago - though I do admit using them longer than a month - and the $526/month for 3 of us wasn’t far off my normal QUARTERLY food budget.
One of the little known secrets of food stamps is that vegetable and herb plants and seeds are eligible purchases and I honestly believe the only reason the case worker told me that was because at the time I had been selling selling jams, jellies and other items I was making from things I grew (I still do) and included that in “monthly income.” I totally plead guilty to going to town on that EBT card one month on plants and seeds in WalMart. Because I use so many heirlooms, I’m still reaping those benefits more than 3 years later by saving seeds!
I honestly believe a course that includes budgeting, cooking, etc should be required for those receiving food stamps. Of course that will never happen because it would be “too stigmatizing.”
Good for you.
I know, and in fact that is more what I meant than my poorly worded statement. Thank you for explaining it better. But I think the card swipe machine also asks which benefit, SNAP or TANF.
shouldn’t this be a state by state decision?
I got a great giggle out of that, thanks!
I would be happy if they prevented people from using food stamps to buy crack.
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