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Sebelius: Living a Mile from a Grocery 'May Be Too Far to Get Healthier Food'
CNSNews ^

Posted on 03/07/2012 10:39:01 AM PST by Sub-Driver

Sebelius: Living a Mile from a Grocery 'May Be Too Far to Get Healthier Food' By Penny Starr March 6, 2012

(CNSNews.com) – The administration’s definition of a “food desert” – an urban area where a significant share of the population lives more than one mile from a grocery store – came under the microscope during a Health and Human Services appropriations hearing on Capitol Hill Tuesday.

Questioning HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, a Republican lawmaker said it was likely most of those present at the hearing lived a mile from their nearest grocery store.

“Do you think that definition should be revisited, because one of the things is, if you are in an urban area a mile away from a grocery store you’re in a food desert – which I would think in so many cases is ridiculous,” said Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.). “Have you thought of – have you looked at their definition?”

“Ah, we have sir,” Sebelius responded.

“And you think it’s a good one?” Kingston asked.

“Well, I think it’s very difficult for a family buying groceries – if they have to walk a mile with bags of groceries, it may be too far to get healthier food,” Sebelius said.

“You really think that?” Kingston asked.

“I do,” she replied.

Sebelius agreed to take another look at the definition after Kingston pointed out that the definition is silent on how people must travel the one mile to a grocery store – whether on foot, by car or by some other means of transportation.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
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To: AppyPappy

didn’t they already spends hundreds of millions to open grocery stores in the inner cities??


21 posted on 03/07/2012 10:59:44 AM PST by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: Sub-Driver

Live about 3 miles from a Grocery Store but my grandkids refer to our pantry as “The Store”


22 posted on 03/07/2012 11:01:23 AM PST by Starstruck
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To: tumblindice

It is also a movie, releasing soon


23 posted on 03/07/2012 11:01:44 AM PST by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: ozark hilljilly

I’m seven miles from the nearest grocery store.
And I LIKE it that way!


24 posted on 03/07/2012 11:02:17 AM PST by Little Ray (FOR the best Conservative in the Primary; AGAINST Obama in the General.)
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To: Sub-Driver
And Agenda 21 will rectify that, right Scumbelius?
25 posted on 03/07/2012 11:03:26 AM PST by liberalh8ter (Barack has a memory like a steel trap; it's a gift ~ Michelle Obama)
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To: Sub-Driver

Hey, I’ve got it! Free deliveries of free food for all who don’t want to drive the mile in their new Escalades.


26 posted on 03/07/2012 11:03:56 AM PST by freeangel ( (free speech is only good until someone else doesn't like it)
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To: Sub-Driver
Well, I think it’s very difficult for a family buying groceries – if they have to walk a mile with bags of groceries, it may be too far to get healthier food,” Sebelius said.

If they are in an urban area, they can take a bus.

27 posted on 03/07/2012 11:04:59 AM PST by dirtboy
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To: Sub-Driver

The obvious answer to this issue (which was caused by the policies of GW Bush) is to have the Federal Government nationalize the corrupt and racially biased grocery industry and build more grocery stores so that every American is within 1 mile of a store. The stores would, of course, be required to provide free food and transportation for the handicapped, elderly and racial minorities. Given the critical nature of food, Homeland Security should be the controlling agency.


28 posted on 03/07/2012 11:05:31 AM PST by Senator_Blutarski
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To: AppyPappy

Actually, it is setting up the reason to house everybody in the towns and leave that countryside for the animals...

AGENDA 21 folks...


29 posted on 03/07/2012 11:06:07 AM PST by phockthis (http://www.supremelaw.org/fedzone11/index.htm ...)
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To: ozark hilljilly
I’m 25 miles from a grocery store. Wonder what Katie would say about that.

That you are an antisocial potential terrorist and shoud be forcibly relocated to an urban area for your own good and the good of society.

Just guessing. But I doubt I'm wrong. The liberal distrust of rural Americans is deep.

30 posted on 03/07/2012 11:07:32 AM PST by jboot
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To: GeronL

I read it at my daughter’s suggestion. Have you read it, and any thoughts?


31 posted on 03/07/2012 11:10:32 AM PST by tumblindice (Baby made boom boom)
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To: bcsco

I live about 2 miles from the nearest grocery store (which I don’t shop at). In the warmer months I ride a bike with a trailer that I built to get groceries. I have 8 kids and I can fit a grocery trip on the trailer rather easily.

I make it just fine. If people want to eat healthier they will do it. Healthier does not imply stupid organic stores or “Health” food stores (which sell way too much processed crap). Healthier means home cooked meals from fresh or frozen veggies and lean meats. Both of those items are easily obtained at any grocery store in the nation.


32 posted on 03/07/2012 11:10:59 AM PST by pennyfarmer (Even a RINO will chew its foot off when caught in a trap.)
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To: Sub-Driver

Walk to the grocery store, Sebelius. It’s good for your health.


33 posted on 03/07/2012 11:11:11 AM PST by YHAOS (you betcha!)
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To: bigbob
It’s the like people I see when I go to the gym who circle the parking lot looking for a space that won’t make them walk very far...

LOL that reminds me of the public transit strike here in Toronto back in the early '90s. Traffic was gridlocked all day so people were driving downtown at 5am then spending a couple of hours at the gym riding stationery bicycles.

34 posted on 03/07/2012 11:12:25 AM PST by Squawk 8888 (Tories in- now the REAL work begins!)
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To: tennmountainman

What local transit bus? We just got bus system in 2011 in my town. And it only comes about 2 miles from my house, that is the closest. I would have to walk two miles to get on the bus, to the mall. Or walk two miles to the mall. There is no taxi here and no train. All we have = cars.


35 posted on 03/07/2012 11:13:17 AM PST by buffyt (Abortion is murder of a human life!)
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To: tumblindice

No, but it sounds similar to some other things. It’s got a little 1984, a little Ender’s Game and a dash of other stuff it sounds like.

I wonder if Hollywood will be turning Philip K Dick’s “Pre-Persons” into a major motion picture any time soon? lol. Not a chance on Pluto.


36 posted on 03/07/2012 11:13:21 AM PST by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: Sub-Driver

Oh noze.

I live 1.6 miles from Kroger and 1.9 miles from Minyard.

How will I ever survive??


37 posted on 03/07/2012 11:19:55 AM PST by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: GeronL

And Shirley Jackson’s `The Lottery’ and a lot from the Japanese movie `Battle Royale.’
It’s going to be the next `Twilight’ so get ready to be sick of hearing about it. But sub Obama for President Snow and IMHO you have an allegory for America, 2012.

I don’t know about `Pre-Persons.’ Will put it on my reading list.


38 posted on 03/07/2012 11:20:30 AM PST by tumblindice (Baby made boom boom)
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To: GeronL

They are serious. And don’t call me Surely.


39 posted on 03/07/2012 11:21:32 AM PST by patriotsoul
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To: ModelBreaker
Is she advocating putting grocery stores every eight blocks in residential Beverly Hills? Or perhaps forcing all the folks in Beverly Hills to move into high-rises with a grocery store on the first floor.

“….You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
…”

40 posted on 03/07/2012 11:21:34 AM PST by Stand Watch Listen (Defeating Obama: Is neither a Republican Goal, nor a Democratic Concern, it is America's Survival)
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