Posted on 05/14/2010 5:55:37 AM PDT by TornadoAlley3
WASHINGTON — Rep. Collin Peterson on Thursday suggested Congress consider banning caloric soft drinks from being purchased with food stamps as a way to address obesity.
According to multiple reports, Peterson said the proposed ban is "clearly is something we need to look at," though he added that he neither supports nor opposes the suggestion at this point.
Peterson's comments followed a House Agriculture Committee meeting, in which a panelist suggested the embargo. The hearing was one of many Peterson is holding as an early preview of the 2012 Farm Bill, which includes the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The exact suggestion Peterson was responding to, as reported by Reuters' Charles Abbott:
Wellesley College professor and food expert Rob Paarlberg suggested the ban during a hearing to review the 2008 farm law, which includes food stamps as well as crop subsidies. Food stamps help low-income people buy food. One in eight Americans receives food stamps.
The anti-hunger program accounts for 40 percent of Agriculture Department spending and outweighs crop subsidy and land stewardship spending of $10 billion this year.
"I would argue caloric soda should be made ineligible for purchase under SNAP, like tobacco and alcohol," said Paarlberg, using the new name for food stamps, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. He later said sugary sodas are "a huge part of the obesity problem."
Wise judgment! Who thinks they'd stop at food stamp purchases? ;-)
When Pepsico spent untold millions of dollars changing their logo to resemble the Obama “Hope and Change” icon, somehow I can’t see where this is ever gonna happen.
OK, I'll include fruit and veggies too.
Amazing.
This is ironic. They want to remove choice when people select food products, but they want to allow choice when it comes to abortions.
If they're successful doing this, it seems to me a precedent would be established for reversing Roe v Wade.
I agree 100%.
The government should get out of the food business completely and all people’s food choices will once again reflect economic reality. People might actually learn how to cook rather than push a microwave button.
People on the government food dole should not be buying convenience anyhow. In reality, they have more time on hand to prepare meals from scratch than working people.
I believe the government under nobama has already begun the process of making us like North Korea. They have a plan to take care of the “peoples” excess and fat children. With the economy in eventual shambles we will be eating grass and tree bark. Problem solved. nobama is a genius. Pure genius.
I know legal immigrants from India who go to Sams Club and buy 25 lb. bags of rice. With that and a few vegetables and spices, they can live on it for half a year. (generally they save the rest of their money and end up buying a business within a couple of years)
Yeah, and we were also told Obama was the “post-partisan” president. Look where that got us. I’ll “cling bitterly to my guns and religion”, thanks all the same.
At the same time they wanted to put a federal tax on our soda to pay for Health Reform. Idiots #2
About 4x’s a year my wife and daughters drive to Pinehurst, NC to see their Granny. We pass the section 8 projects on the way in. Every time we go we place bets on whether or not these same 4 people are sitting on the front porch, not working. We always pass by on a Thursday or Friday about noon. 3 out of 4 times, there they are! In their 20’s and 30’s just sitting. It’s a great illustration to my kids on the “wonders” of hand outs! The complex is called “Optimist Apartments” too! Right next to “Optimist Field” which is always empty. Sitting on the porch wears a fellow out.
That isn’t the point. The point is the government will control what people eat. Are you really okay with that?
Then why not just ban them outright?
Good!
I have a friend who is a clerk in a food store. She said those with gub’ment food cards buy the expensive crackers, chocolates, etc. that she can’t afford to buy. So much for subsidies.
“except of course an angry mob of Pepsi or Mountain Dew-deprived welfare recipients rioting in the streets!”
Nothing to fear, they’d give out quick without all that sugar and caffeine.
No stamps for Nehi Grape Soda? None for Kools cigarettes? What’s next- none for Barbecue Potato Chips?
I totally agree, but all those corporations getting subsidies should face the same thing. Their CEO’s should eat nothing but raw veggies.
this has all the makings of a classic Democrat Pinch Bill (propose some draconian regulation and then milk the Soda, Snack Food and Fast Food industries for campaign cash in order to keep the Grim Reaper away from their door). Just like the deals Obama cut with GE and Big Pharma.
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