No more food stamp junk food

[Jasonw560]

Texas Democrat Reps. bring bills to stop buying junk food with SNAP (food stamps)


 http://www.valleycentral.com/m/news/story?id=857436#.URUnWBrCuoY

[Celtic Rose]

I actually agree with  Democrats on something? 

[Boudicca]

I actually agree with  Democrats on something? 

He's from Texas so some of the sanity floating around in the air has obviously affected his mind.

[chitownchica]

It's good to hear this.  Want junk food? Get a job.

[Jasonw560]

The best part of the article:

 

Texas State Rep. Richard Peña Raymond of Laredo is taking it a step further, outlawing all food stamps for the use of buying junk food with HB 751.

"You buy whatever you want. You want to buy two pounds of butter and go have that for supper that's your money you do whatever you want," said Peña Raymond.

He said the difference is, taxpayers shouldn't be paying for someone's junk food which could later make them sick.

"We should not be on the one hand using money tax dollars to buy junk food and then on the other hand using tax dollars to pay for health related diseases that come about because of junk food."

[rich_t]

Sounds ok to me, but who sets the definition of what junk food is?

[Wineslob]

Sounds ok to me, but who sets the definition of what junk food is?

FAGS

Food Arbiter Goon Squad

[Zeus]

Sounds ok to me, but who sets the definition of what junk food is?

There are specifically approved foodstuff for the Women's , Infants & Children program. Should be easy to enumerate nonallowed foodstuff under snap.

[rich_t]

There are specifically approved foodstuff for the Women's , Infants & Children program. Should be easy to enumerate nonallowed foodstuff under snap.

Not a bad place to start.  I haven't paid much attention to WIC allowable food stuffs for a long time.

[Jasonw560]

I'll look at the bills tonight and see if the prohibited foods are enumerated.

[Zeus]

I'll look at the bills tonight and see if the prohibited foods are enumerated.

Break out a dictionary first.

[rich_t]

I'll look at the bills tonight and see if the prohibited foods are enumerated.

The entire text of that bill:

83R2910 JSL-D
 
     By: Canales    H.B. No. 523
 
 
     
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
     
AN ACT
     relating to prohibiting the purchase of energy drinks under the
     supplemental nutrition assistance program.
            BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
            SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code,
     is amended by adding Section 33.036 to read as follows:
            Sec. 33.036.  PURCHASE OF ENERGY DRINKS PROHIBITED UNDER
     SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. (a) In this section,
     "energy drink" means a beverage containing at least 65 milligrams
     of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces that is advertised as being
     specifically designed to provide metabolic stimulation or an
     increase to the consumer's mental or physical energy. The term does
     not include coffee or any substantially coffee-based beverage.
            (b)  A recipient may not use supplemental nutrition
     assistance benefits to purchase an energy drink.
            (c)  The department shall conduct a public outreach campaign
     to promote awareness of the prohibition under this section.
            SECTION 2.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
     a state agency determines that authorization from a federal agency
     is necessary for implementation of that provision, the agency
     affected by the provision shall request the authorization and may
     delay implementing that provision until the authorization is
     granted.
            SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

[rich_t]

The entire text of the other bill mentioned in the article"

83R1820 KKR-D
 
     By: Raymond    H.B. No. 751
 
 
     
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
     
AN ACT
     relating to prohibiting the purchase of certain food items under
     the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
            BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
            SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code,
     is amended by adding Section 33.031 to read as follows:
            Sec. 33.031.  PURCHASE OF CERTAIN FOOD ITEMS PROHIBITED
     UNDER SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. (a)  In this
     section:
                  (1)  "Milk product" means a natural milk product
     regardless of animal source or butterfat content and regardless of
     whether reconstituted, including milk in liquid form, milk
     concentrate, and dehydrated milk.
                  (2)  "Sweetened beverage" means a nonalcoholic
     beverage to which a natural or artificial sweetener is added that is
     sold for human consumption, including a soft drink, a fruit or
     vegetable juice, and other flavored beverages.
            (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a recipient may
     not use supplemental nutrition assistance benefits to purchase:
                  (1)  a sweetened beverage;
                  (2)  candy ordinarily packaged and sold for consumption
     without further preparation;
                  (3)  potato or corn chips ordinarily packaged and sold
     for consumption without further preparation; or
                  (4)  cookies ordinarily packaged and sold for
     consumption without further preparation.
            (c)  The prohibition under Subsection (b) does not apply to
     the purchase of:
                  (1)  a milk product or a product containing milk or a
     milk protein;
                  (2)  a milk substitute, including soy milk, rice milk,
     or almond milk;
                  (3)  a beverage in which the only added sweetener does
     not add calories to the beverage;
                  (4)  a beverage intended by the manufacturer for
     consumption by an infant that is commonly referred to as "infant
     formula";
                  (5)  a beverage intended by the manufacturer for use
     for weight reduction;
                  (6)  a fruit or vegetable juice to which no sugar has
     been added;
                  (7)  a beverage or other product intended for use as
     recommended by a health care professional, as defined by Section
     247.067, Health and Safety Code;
                  (8)  a beverage or other product that contains plant
     protein sources; or
                  (9)  a product that:
                        (A)  is fortified with a vitamin or mineral; and
                        (B)  contains a source of protein.
            SECTION 2.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
     a state agency determines that authorization from a federal agency
     is necessary for implementation of that provision, the agency
     affected by the provision shall request the authorization and may
     delay implementing that provision until the authorization is
     granted.
            SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

[docstew]

Went to the commissary yesterday, customer in front of me had a total bill of $420, all of it on EBT. I saw them pushing it out, all junk, prepared foods, and mass quantities of fresh meat. I don't spend $400/month on groceries.

Come to think of it, there's many times I've seen people in the commissary with a cart completely filled with meat. There's no way that's all for personal use.

[Jasonw560]

Went to the commissary yesterday, customer in front of me had a total bill of $420, all of it on EBT. I saw them pushing it out, all junk, prepared foods, and mass quantities of fresh meat. I don't spend $400/month on groceries.

Come to think of it, there's many times I've seen people in the commissary with a cart completely filled with meat. There's no way that's all for personal use.

They're alloted so much per month.

Most people buy one month's worth of food at one time.

[Jasonw560]

And rich_t, thanks for the text of the bills.

I'm going to follow these bills.

[docstew]

They're alloted so much per month.

Most people buy one month's worth of food at one time.

Would it make a difference in your opinion that I saw those same ladies putting their $400+ of taxpayer bought groceries in a LEXUS SUV? (although it could have been an infiniti, I was a couple rows over in the parking lot, but definitely one of the "luxury" brands) Add to that the fact that the only people who can shop at the commissary are current military and dependents, retired military and dependents, and my  flag comes out. I know they have an income, either their military pay or their pension. Why am I (and millions of other taxpayers) paying for the groceries they put in their late model Lexus, while I'm driving a 2003 Ford Explorer with over 130k miles on it?

[RobJohnson]

Would it make a difference in your opinion that I saw those same ladies putting their $400+ of taxpayer bought groceries in a LEXUS SUV? (although it could have been an infiniti, I was a couple rows over in the parking lot, but definitely one of the "luxury" brands) Add to that the fact that the only people who can shop at the commissary are current military and dependents, retired military and dependents, and my  flag comes out. I know they have an income, either their military pay or their pension. Why am I (and millions of other taxpayers) paying for the groceries they put in their late model Lexus, while I'm driving a 2003 Ford Explorer with over 130k miles on it?

I agree.

[IassaFTots]

And rich_t, thanks for the text of the bills.

I'm going to follow these bills.

I am as well.  SNAP has been advertising on our local AM talk radio about the ability to get fresh  vegetables and fruits with the card.  I wonder if that is what that's about. 

Personally, I would like to see a WIC and SNAP only store.  It should be as uncomfortable as possible to get subsidized food.  Like the old white generic boxes.

[Dacabeti]

This is totally racist and unfair! How else is Honey Booboo going to get the 4lbs of Mayo she puts on her Cupcake and French fry sandwich?

[CG6468]

The riots begin in 1...2...3............

[RobJohnson]

The reckless spending of some of those on SNAP keeps a lot of convenience stores in business, who needs a grocery store? Who needs coupons or worry about shelf prices?

[NHSparky]

Would it make a difference in your opinion that I saw those same ladies putting their $400+ of taxpayer bought groceries in a LEXUS SUV? (although it could have been an infiniti, I was a couple rows over in the parking lot, but definitely one of the "luxury" brands) Add to that the fact that the only people who can shop at the commissary are current military and dependents, retired military and dependents, and my  flag comes out. I know they have an income, either their military pay or their pension. Why am I (and millions of other taxpayers) paying for the groceries they put in their late model Lexus, while I'm driving a 2003 Ford Explorer with over 130k miles on it?

And think about the fact that $400 at the commissary would cost $500-550 (or more) out in town.

[seahorse513]

Hopefully other states will follow, if they haven't already...

[DLR Pyro]

The riots begin in 1...2...3............

What do we want? 

JUNKFOOD!

When do we want it?

NOW!