TALLAHASSEE, Fla. ? Florida wants to limit the type of food recipients of food stamps can buy, the Sun-Sentinel reports. State Sen. Ronda Storms and state Rep. Scott Plakon have sponsored a bill that would outlaw ?junk food? purchases with food stamps.
?Should the taxpayer foot the bill for Mountain Dew?? Storms said during last week?s committee meeting of the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs. Plakon told the House Health and Human Services Access Subcommittee this week that the bill would simply increase the number of items on the can?t buy list for food stamps.
The House committee passed the bill because Plakon assured them it would have substantial edits. One portion of the measure would not allow benefits cards to be used at casino or strip club ATMs. Some committee members want the grocery limits part of the bill to be stripped out.
?I don't want people to tell me what to eat,? said Rep. Dana Young. ?I just don't think it's right as legislators and as a government to tell anyone what they can eat, even if they happen to be poor, even if they happen to be on food stamps. It's just not our core mission, and I'm personally offended by it.?
Currently, food stamp recipients cannot purchase tobacco, hot foods, alcohol, foods consumed in the store, or items such as pet food and paper towels under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Florida has to apply to the federal government to make changes to its food stamp program.
Eight years ago, Minnesota wanted to ban candy and soda from food stamp purchases, but the waiver was not granted. In 2011, New York City unsuccessfully tried to forbid soft drinks purchases with food stamps.
Because the number of food stamp recipients has increased in recent years, grocery stores and other retailers have begun targeting this group with promotions and other marketing programs.
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