Posted on 01/23/2023 12:05:19 PM PST by EBH
Iowans on the food assistance program known as SNAP would have far fewer food purchasing options — not being able to use the benefits to buy meat, nuts or canned fruits and vegetables — under legislation proposed by Republican lawmakers.
However, the bill may be amended eventually to include more foods, Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley said.
For the time being, the legislation as written — which has 39 House Republican sponsors, including Grassley — would limit SNAP program users to only foods eligible for users of WIC, the nutrition assistance program for expectant mothers.
That means SNAP users would be limited to purchasing WIC-approved foods like milk, juice, cereal, bread, rice, pasta, fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs and yogurt.
But SNAP users would no longer be able to purchase with the aid many other foods, including meat, poultry, fish, canned fruits and vegetables and items commonly used in food preparation like butter, flour, spices and seasonings, sugar, and vegetable oil, and ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise and other condiments.
In addition to food banks and anti-hunger advocacy groups, among those registered as against the bill, according to state lobbying records, is Tyson Foods, the world’s second-largest processor of chicken, beef and pork with meatpacking plants in Iowa.
Grassley said the legislation was designed to ensure accountability in Iowa’s assistance programs, like SNAP, to make sure they are sustainable. The food assistance program is funded by the federal government and jointly administered by the federal and state governments.
(Excerpt) Read more at thegazette.com ...
“If it forces people off of food stamps it is good. However, the people that really need the assistance will have much worse health without the protein. SNAP will survive but MedicId will tank.”
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That is a myth.
If you look at Welfare in general, back when unprepared beans were almost the only protein/carb allowed - non-meat, I mean, folks were much healthier.
As the Welfare Entitlement mentality grew so did the businesses that were pushing it and at the same time, the waistlines of the American consumer using and providing the Welfare Benefits.
Take it back to the basics.
Stand back and watch TWO things happen: Folks on Medicaid get HEALTHIER and folks get off of Medicaid and all food related forms of Welfare Benefits.
In my 60s at this time.
Saw the ill-effects over the years.
Saw business get rich, investors get rich, who by the way do not give one damn about the health of the folks on Welfare......
Yeah, let those who don’t pay for their food eat the bugs. I mean, if I have to pay for their food, I should get a say on what I buy for them, right?
I HATE canned vegetables [WAY better than bugs though], but would guess that they could be cheaper than fresh or frozen.
It will have the same result.
The “recipients” will complain (as will lobbyists for meat producers) and they will revert back to normal with people buying $50 worth of premium cut ribs at the Walmart check-out line on their “EBT” card.
FWIW - I support limiting purchases to more sensible and healthy foods give that the taxpayers are funding this. I have always felt that way.
It won’t last though and I can already hear the screaming. They could not even continue the “healthy school lunch program” because the kids refused to eat what they served.
However I am more in favor of the "food box" concept. If you are on public assistance you need to know how to cook.
Canned veggies are ok.
Whole fresh veggies or plain frozen veggies are ok.
Precut or sauced veggies are not.
Saw business get rich, investors get rich, who by the way do not give one damn about the health of the folks on Welfare......
Don’t forget the politicians! There is a reason you can buy “candy” and “luxury foods” using these programs.
No, it is not the right way. Ban convenience foods and allow all fresh, whole or raw foods and baking ingredients.
Make America Cook Again.
They’re actually good when cooked right. I like em a little burnt - with some salt and garlic.
America’s herds of welfare cows would do well to graze on them.
See page 10. Fresh vegetables is a voucher.
Vegetables:
Allowed: Fresh including any
potatoes, bagged salads with no
additional ingredients; frozen
without added fat, oil, sauces,
sugars, pasta or rice;
Not allowed: Dried vegetables,
herbs and spices, items from salad
bars, party trays, nuts including
peanuts; Frozen french fries, tator
tots, potato rounds, diced potatoes,
shredded hash browns, or hash
brown patties with fats/oils,
seasonings or sugars
Greek Yogurt--allows Chobani and Siggi, but not Fage.
Tuna--only chunk light--no expensive Albacore
Fresh & Frozen Fruits and Vegetables are, indeed, on the list (p.10). Voucher cash value. If value exceeded, WIC recipient may pay the difference.
Frankly, it is annoying standing in line behind the welfare shoppers, seeing the most expensive meat cuts, seafood, etc. in their carts.
This free food is why so many college students take 6-8 years to get a 120 hour degree.
They work for cash only or until they reach a $ limit and still be eligible for what passes for food stamps these days. So they stretch out the time/years to be graduated.
FWIW and I am not being a smart-ass towards you but I bet this “change” will result in a quadrupling of “lobbying dollars” to the republicrats in the Iowa legislature from the meat producers and corporate processed food manufacturers.
That is how the game is played and its the reason you can buy sugared cereals, lobster, energy drinks, cookies, ice cream bars, and even Keurig coffee pods with an EBT card.
Again, I fully support having a list of staple foods that are healthy, but this is how our country works now.
It’s a great idea for taxpayers. It’s an even better idea for legislators to take in lots of “campaign donations” from the affected parties. THAT is why you can buy a complete list of junk or luxury foods using your EBT card.
Maybe I am too cynical?
Follow the Money.
They are going to force them to eat High Carb.
And they develop metabolic syndrome and become obese.
Then they can point at them and say, look they are fat on the SNAP program, which they will use as an excuse to cut more.
Dave Ramsey: “Eat beans and rice. When you get tired of that, eat rice and beans” ... or something to that effect. But that only applies to working taxpayers who want to get out of debt.
This is stupid.
Want to ban things from Snap, ban things like Pop, chips, etc.. not fruits, vegetables and meat...
Not a fan of them myself, but when dealing with the reality of folks who need this kind of assistance, pretty stupid to ban fruits and vegetables just because they are canned.
It is very annoying no doubt.
Having grown up poor, suffered a major illness during the 0bama years of messing up my health insurance, to filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy and paying back all my hospital/cc debt over 5 years,
No doubt it is annoying looking back realizing the only “help” I could get was from a bankruptcy court to get the creditors off my back during the first 18 months of my recovery.
These folks who can work, but find every excuse not to work and take government handouts...yea annoyed is a nice word.
OK..rant over.
Take it back to the basics.
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