A new law has been introduced in the West Virginia House of Delegates that would prohibit food stamp recipients from "purchasing sugary soft drinks or carbonated beverages with such funds."
Recipients of food stamps, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ("SNAP"), are already limited by law as to certain purchases, such as a prohibition against purchasing alcohol and tobacco products. Delegates John N. Ellem, Republican from Wood County, and Eric L. Householder, Republican from Berkeley County, introduced the bill on Friday. They said that the law is necessary to help fight West Virginia's growing obesity problem and to make sure that taxpayer dollars are spent on nutritional items. Almost one-third of West Virginians are considered obese and about 18% receive food stamps.
Since the SNAP program is controlled by federal law, even if the West Virginia legislature passes this new law, the federal government must approve of the new prohibition.
The full text of the proposed law can be found at this link:
Wow, what are they going to do next? say we can only buy certain foods with them. Anything to put more people in a bind they will. People have right to live how they want and they're trying to control obesity with a law? I'm not obese, but I like to have my soda.
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ReplyDeleteWhile their at it why not cut out all JUNK Foods
That statement says it all. This is a Government funded program to which is meant only to help someone to get back on their feet, not support you for years. I agree that the Government should not be allowed to tell you how to SPEND YOUR OWN MONEY... whether that be on pop, candy, or whatever you choose; but if you are recieving a Government fund you should only be allowed to buy the essentials and you should only be able to buy the generic versions. People want the Government to support them from cradle to grave and that is just disgustingly sad. If you want a pop, get a job and buy one. If you want Government assistnace, be grateful for it and drink the water and milk that it will buy. What is wrong with America and this pathetic sense of entitlement?!
ReplyDeleteThis is just trying to take more of our freedoms. They want to control our smoking,drinking soft drinks, having snacks at school, our guns, what we can do with our homes ect. I thought we came to America for freedom. People, our freedom is being took away from us!!! When do we take back control of government instead of the government controling us!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, Dick--talk about mean-spirited (do you have a heart?). How about a family through no fault of their own that has to have assistance to survive; you don't think that mother or father should be able to buy a son or daughter a birthday cake or candy bar now and then? Are they entitled to no enjoyment? If they are in bad enough shape to have government assistance, they have very little and no money for anything extra. Generic food only? God forbid that you ever fall on hard times. I hope Jesus is able to touch your cold, frozen heart.
ReplyDeleteHow is that mean spirited. You have to draw a line somewhere. There is always going to be sacrafice. If you are living off of the Government you should be provided with only the essentials. That way people are not prone to living off of a portion of the working man's paycheck for an extended period of time. If it's hard luck, then I feel for you. But I don't feel that you should be purchasing whatever you dang well please with money that isn't yours. You absolutely are not entitled to that money, it is money to help you UNTIL YOU FIND ANOTHER JOB. Nobody has to go years without a job, there are job openings every day it is just that most people are above working for minimum wage. If you are on hard times, then use the money to purchase essentials and give your kids a hug and thank god that there are people out there willing to give a portion of their paycheck to help you until you are able to help yourself, and have enough respect not to abuse that priviledge. That's the problem with every Government program out there... there is no limits put on the payouts, so people strive to get that 'free paycheck' and feel that they are entitled to it and somehow deserve to recieve money that they didn't work for. That makes absolutely no sense.
ReplyDeleteFirstly Dick, it isn't that people are "willing to give a portion of their paycheck." It's called taxes, we pay them or we go to jail for tax evasion. From your attitude, I seriously doubt you would actually deign to help the less fortunate at all--so it is a very good thing government programs are in place to do so. (Side note: "government" in the context of your usage should not be capitalized). Secondly, a minimum-wage job will not keep a family of four (or three, or even two). There are many people working full-time that still can't make ends meet in this economy, try as they might. Thirdly there are those hurt and disabled that may never be ABLE to return to work. What about disabled vets? Should they have to eat generic food the rest of their lives? Finally, there absolutely are those that "milk" the system, but by no means are they the majority. Fox "News" has you believing the problems of this country are the fault of the poor. They aren't. "...Verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me."
ReplyDeleteThe welfare free food voucher programs or whatever it is called should restrict to nutritional food only. Great idea. If you think the Government is trying to control you or what you eat then I agree pay for it with you cash or get off the system. I personally hope the system fails and nobody gets a free ride any longer. Why should people work their backsides off while the lazy sit on the porch.
ReplyDeleteI understand some people need help but life long tag a longs who can get out and work need to so if they keep strickening thing maybe it will be an insinative. And a two person familyy can make it on 7.25 an hour. After i buy my gas to go to work i only get HALF of my pay check and i drive a rather newer truck and need nothing i have all essentials and i also smoke cigarettes and drink pop everyday. It is possable. And im also giving to the system to support those programs to help. They need manditory drug test to..by the way i get NO assistance from nothing nor anyone and were doing just fine on my pay check.
ReplyDeleteFood stamps supplement the working poor whose low wage incomes are often not enough to sustain them and their families, as well as assisting those who, for whatever reason, do not or are not able to work. Freedom from hunger is a basic human right; if the government encourages healthy choices by limiting the purchase of soft drinks with food stamps (SNAP), this isn't inhumane or subversive, it is simply promoting the general welfare and hopefully, in some small way, improving the health of our citizens. And yes, Jesus said, when you do unto the least of these my brethren, you do unto me.
ReplyDeleteI have worked for many years and paid my taxes, at a minimum wage job, I am also qualified to draw some snap benefits, I do not consider this to be a free ride, Im paying into it, so therefore I see nothing free about it, I also agree that there are plenty of ppl that abuse the program,and yes it upsets me, but for the government to tell me that I can not buy my child a soda or a candy bar once in a while? when I pay into it myself,come on people what's next? you can't purchase bacon? or you can only purchase whole wheat bread? I can only imagine where this will lead to
DeleteThis is just plain stupid...its up to the parents to decide on what their children drink and dont drink same as it is what they should and shouldnt eat..lord have mercy this is just pure stupid before ya know it were all honna be wearing sheets and wearing sandals n women showing nothing but their eyes...lord have mercy..parents n kids will just buy bags of sugar n start drinking sugar water or lots n lots of kool aid lol wowww
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