Posted on 05/20/2015 4:17:11 PM PDT by upchuck
Wisconsin’s State Assembly approved legislation last week that puts in place new rules about what recipients of food stamps may purchase with the benefits.
Assembly Bill 177 would limit the types of food that could be purchased with Wisconsins food stamp program, FoodShare.
In addition to banning the purchase of foods such as lobster with the publicly-funded program, the legislation would also require that just over two-thirds of the benefits be used to purchase healthy foods:
Under this bill, DHS [Department of Health Services] must require that not less than 67 percent of the SNAP benefits used by a recipient in a month be used to purchase any of the following foods: foods that are on the list of foods authorized for the federal special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC foods); beef; pork; chicken; fish; fresh produce; and fresh, frozen, and canned white potatoes. In addition, DHS must prohibit using SNAP benefits for the purchase of crab, lobster, shrimp, or any other shellfish.
The bill was passed in a 60-35 vote.
Supporters say the measure is fiscally responsible and encourages healthy eating, while opponents say that limiting the types of food that can be purchased places additional hardship on those receiving aid.
A lot of people, an awful lot of people who are on FoodShare are also on BadgerCare, so there is a direct financial benefit not just to the individual, which of course is obvious to have better health, but also to state taxpayers and society as a whole, Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, told the Associated Press.
Its a restriction thats designed just to make the lives of those that are already struggling that much harder, Rep. Lisa Subeck, D-Madison, told The Capital Times. And instead, we should be focusing not on the foods people buy but on putting people to work by creating jobs that get people off of FoodShare.
Rachel Sheffield, a policy analyst for The Heritage Foundations DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society, said that the food stamps program is in serious need of reform.
Most importantly food stamps should include a work requirement that requires able-bodied adults to work, prepare for work or look for work in exchange for receiving assistance, said Sheffield.
The bill will go on to the state Senate for approval. The AP reports that the Wisconsin Senate declined to take up a similar bill last year.
;-)
Fish is not on their banned list.
There are two kinds of EBT cards in Ohio. The EBT food stamp card cannot be used for booze or anything inedible such as soap or paper products, hot foods for consumption on premises and such. The EBT cash card can, it also can be used at ATM’s. Such cards are where we hear of benefits being spent at strip clubs, liquor stores, pot dispensaries, etc.
I’ve never eaten lobster, and don’t plan to. There doesn’t look to be much meat on them anyway, and to watch them crawl around in tanks - grosses me out.
Do you agree that if you get Medicare, then you shouldn’t be allowed to smoke, drink alcohol, or eat steak or chocolate cake for the rest of your life. Do you think the govt should be allowed to tell you that?
An excellent point. Some on here don’t seem to understand that they very thing they criticize the libs for doing - they do themselves by wanting to dictate what people can and can’t purchase. I guess they don’t see the hypocrisy in this.
Instead, they rant and rave about the fact that their tax dollars are being spent. Well, the tax dollars are being spent on many, many things which we have no control over - such as the luxurious vacation habits of the moocher and his family. We don’t get a checklist to check how we want our tax dollars spent.
Is Medicaire welfare?
There should be no incentive to go on a “shopping/eating spree” once a month when living like this on the taxpayer dime. Move off this program to enjoy such benefits.
Except that this is one area where taxpayers CAN have an effect on how their money is spent.
If you do not want to be told what food you can buy, then don’t use food stamps to buy your food.
Should I support abortions or not? Should I subsidize health care for elected officials and their staff? Should I agree to give millions and billions of dollars to enemy governments? There are bigger fish to fry - and people who eat nothing but beans and rice can develop some serious illnesses such as beriberi.
The only one who is a hypocrite is you by backing off the specific topic of this thread to a broad generalization about all ways in which our taxes are spent. What a silly conclusion.
Did you mean Medicaid ?
You know free medical care for poor people...
Not the health care we paid into for decades ?
Sounds like you are one of those people who cannot address problems in parallel. Leave that to others. Meanwhile, get back on topic.
The parasites would take their high crime rate with them too.An added bonus!
they could run it like WIC... Supermarkets have to abide by the rules or face penalties...
Some people think it is welfare. It’s a govt program. What about Obamacare? Is it welfare when people are under penalty if they don’t buy it? Govt can use either of these programs to control your life. I would rather just let people make their own decisions about what foods they buy. I agree that things like alcohol, soda, paper towels, candy shouldn’t be paid for, but don’t tell me to buy fresh produce when I can get canned vegetables that are cheaper, that often taste better, and they have a much better shelf life.
About time.
There are quite a few food stamp use prohibitions existing, i.e., alcohol, tobacco products, ‘to go’ foods (Mackie D’s), etc. Lobster, yes, bot if they buy 1 lb lobster @ $13/lb, that’s 4 lbs of ground beef @ $3/lb they won’t get, which of course would go farther.
On the other hand, I’ve heard some recipients trade their food benefit for cash to buy alcohol/cigarettes/Mackie D’s). There will always be those who work their way around the system, unfortunately, so all the good intentions can be for naught.
Urban leaders have very prominently denounced fast-food as taking advantage of minorities.
A very simple thing to help them would be to de-activate welfare food cards for use in fast-food establishments.
They really care about nutrition?
Fine, let them try out not being able to stuff their faces with free burgers, washed down with free, fluorescent Orange Drink.
We will hear the screams echo off the hillsides.
Make it simple, rice, beans, and lettuce...nothing else...
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