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Peterson: Congress should 'look at' banning caloric pop from food stamp purchases
www.minnpost.com ^ | 05/14/10 | Derek Wallbank

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."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: foodstamps; obesity; peterson; pop
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To: Shimmer1

Yes,I agree,it’s easier said than done though,isn’t it?
The simple answer might be to stop electing people who have Socialistic values but they keep coming on and people keep voting for them. Things certainly seem upside down right now when people on public welfare can afford to eat better than working folks.


81 posted on 05/14/2010 8:22:38 AM PDT by FreeDeerHawk
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To: Buckeye McFrog

Next they will want to shut down Krispy Kreme!


82 posted on 05/14/2010 8:42:54 AM PDT by ilovesarah2012
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To: TornadoAlley3

let’s put the FLOTUS on this right away!!!


83 posted on 05/14/2010 8:44:14 AM PDT by tioga
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To: GailA

Cash back is illegal..you should report that if you see it.


84 posted on 05/14/2010 8:47:34 AM PDT by willyd (Tree planting is a zero sum game unless you find the seed on the sidewalk ;-))
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To: concerned about politics; sickoflibs

Probably have flat screen tvs too. They can find the money (or credit) for that and to pay the cable bill. But taxpayers have to buy their food for them.

I like pop (soda) I always get whatever’s cheap. No Coke or Pepsi unless it’s on sale.


85 posted on 05/14/2010 9:35:31 AM PDT by Impy (RED=COMMUNIST, NOT REPUBLICAN | NO "INDIVIDUAL MANDATE"!!!!!!!)
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To: willyd

This is Memphis, they’d just ignore it.


86 posted on 05/14/2010 12:15:22 PM PDT by GailA (obamacare paid for by cuts & taxes on most vulnerable Veterans, retired Military, disabled & Seniors)
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To: steve86

Well that answers that. It was buying food so I supposed it was card for that purpose.

Welfare money should NOT be spent on cigs, booze or lottery tickets.


87 posted on 05/14/2010 12:21:25 PM PDT by GailA (obamacare paid for by cuts & taxes on most vulnerable Veterans, retired Military, disabled & Seniors)
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To: GailA
Welfare money should NOT be spent on cigs, booze or lottery tickets.

I certainly agree with that. Many of these EBT cards access both SNAP (food stamps) and TANF (welfare). Using either part for vices is equally bad, IMO. The food stamp part will not allow alcohol. etc., but an unscrupulous retailer could allow a swap of items at the checkout.

88 posted on 05/14/2010 12:43:23 PM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurture)
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To: albie

LOL! Too true.


89 posted on 05/14/2010 7:35:15 PM PDT by Scotsman will be Free (11C - Indirect fire, infantry - High angle hell - We will bring you, FIRE)
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To: steve86

Digital cash registers are programed to kick out the non food items on the food stamp card at least at chain stores. I suspect that quickie marts are the ones skirting the law on non food items being purchased by food stamp users. BOOZE and CIGS are not on the food stamp list of allowable food. Never has been.


90 posted on 05/15/2010 6:07:51 AM PDT by GailA (obamacare paid for by cuts & taxes on most vulnerable Veterans, retired Military, disabled & Seniors)
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To: GailA
"Digital cash registers are programed to kick out the non food items on the food stamp card at least at chain stores. I suspect that quickie marts are the ones skirting the law on non food items being purchased by food stamp users. BOOZE and CIGS are not on the food stamp list of allowable food. Never has been."

In my town right next door to me is a second hand shop. The guy buys and sells second hand items and if the price is right he'll buy and sell just about anything you bring to him.

I hang out there when I am taking a break from recording and art work so I see all sorts of deals going down. Lately foodstamp people have been coming in to him (At least we think they are food stamp people) and selling unopened cases of Pepsi and Coke products for 50% off the price listed by the local grocery stores. We figure they are taking the cash and buying beer or cigs.

91 posted on 05/15/2010 6:16:32 AM PDT by Mad Dawgg (If you're going to deny my 1st Amendment rights then I must proceed to the next one...)
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To: Mad Dawgg

More than likely or drugs.


92 posted on 05/15/2010 6:17:31 AM PDT by GailA (obamacare paid for by cuts & taxes on most vulnerable Veterans, retired Military, disabled & Seniors)
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To: GailA
"More than likely or drugs."

Doubtful being they usually only sell one or two cases at a time. Two cases would net them around 5 bucks. That wouldn't buy you even one percocet around this area.

93 posted on 05/15/2010 6:19:35 AM PDT by Mad Dawgg (If you're going to deny my 1st Amendment rights then I must proceed to the next one...)
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To: ilovesarah2012

The govt is not telling people what they can eat, but it can tell people what it will give them. No one has “rights” to just any food they wish.


94 posted on 05/29/2010 3:04:48 PM PDT by Shimmer1
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To: Shimmer1

If we don’t have freedom to choose what foods we want, then we don’t have freedom.


95 posted on 05/29/2010 7:13:28 PM PDT by ilovesarah2012
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To: ilovesarah2012

And if someone gives you charity, you rely on what they give. I don’t see why you can’t grasp this. Freedom of choice goes out the window when you’re on the dole.


96 posted on 05/29/2010 8:55:32 PM PDT by Shimmer1 (Don 't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference)
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To: o_zarkman44
Now that is an idea worth considering. I often see food stamps buying more soda than I can afford.

Feel good legislation never works.

97 posted on 05/29/2010 9:00:00 PM PDT by GreenStreak
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To: o_zarkman44

We should end the program, but IF we keep it, then it should be exactly limited like W-I-C:

From WIC website:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/WIC-Fact-Sheet.pdf

“WIC foods include infant cereal, iron-fortified adult cereal, vitamin C-rich fruit or vegetable juice, eggs, milk, cheese, peanut butter, dried and canned beans/peas, and canned fish. Soy-based beverages, tofu, fruits and vegetables, baby foods, whole wheat bread, and other whole-grain options were recently added to better meet the nutritional needs of WIC participants.”

The PROBLEM of course is that by far the largest beneficiary of food stamps is Coca-Cola, Frito Lay, et. al. As such, there is a major lobby arm in Washington to ensure that those eating off your dime have more choices than you do.


98 posted on 05/29/2010 9:11:52 PM PDT by ziravan (Vote your Revolution.)
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To: ilovesarah2012
If we don’t have freedom to choose what foods we want, then we don’t have freedom.

There is a HUGH difference between being free to choose what foods you earn the means to buy, and being free to choose what foods my tax dollars provide.

Add 'to buy' at the end of your conditional clause, and you are correct.

Base nutritional foods only. If you want more, get a job. Welfare shouldn't be 'comfortable'.
99 posted on 05/29/2010 9:17:42 PM PDT by ziravan (Vote your Revolution.)
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To: Shimmer1

A lot of people who are now receiving EBT have worked their whole lives and paid taxes. But now you get to decide what they eat? I don’t think so.


100 posted on 05/30/2010 5:01:15 AM PDT by ilovesarah2012
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