Florida House panel rejects food stamp sweets ban

[Tony_FLADEM]

TALLAHASSEE — A proposal to prevent food stamps from being used to buy sweets and salty snacks died Monday in a Florida House subcommittee.

The panel stripped the junk food provision from a bill (HB 1401) that also would prohibit welfare recipients from using debit-like electronic cards to access cash benefits outside of Florida or at strip clubs, liquor stores, bars and gambling establishments.

The panel then approved the truncated bill 9-5.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/legislature/florida-house-panel-rejects-food-stamp-sweets-ban/1215303


I have to admit I'm surprised. I thought for sure the Republican Tea Party legislature would vote to approve this.

[customerserviceguy]

1. It does bring up a pet idea of mine

You would give penalties and bonuses for certain food choices. Frankly, I'd leave most foods alone, but you could certainly identify things that you'd have to pay twice as much for from your food stamp benefit, and things you'd get perhaps a 50% bonus for, like staple items that actually have to be cooked in order to become meals. Nutritious fruits and vegetables, especially in raw form would be one thing that I'd particularly like to see with favored treatment.

My bet? The giveaways on the quickie junk food items would more than make up for the gains to families willing to buy raw ingredients to cook with.

[TheMightyFavog]

2. Snack food company lobbyists must have shown the GOPers the error of their ways....

That's my only thought going through my head.

[Archae]

3. The key question here was...

Who decides what is "junk food" and what is not?

You want a vegetarian dictating to all that meat is "junk food?"

You want someone to dictate to all that popcorn is "junk food" because that bureaucrat doesn't like popcorn?

[april come she will]

5. Popcorn without extra crap is quite healthy

Junk food: refined flours and sugars, prepared cakes and cookies, chips, sodas...I would have no problem with it whatsoever. There's already a ban on purchasing cigs and booze.

[RockaFowler]

4. Not surprised at all

This was all a game. They wanted to get their base all riled up that the poor people are taking money away from them. They love doing this. I haven't heard anything about this yet on my local station. But you can believe they made a big deal when it came out that they were thinking of doing this. Again - who decides what is junk and what isn't?? Such a bunch of ruthless people . . .