Arkansas lawmaker's bill on food stamps says no junk foods
A Perryville Republican wants to reduce Medicaid costs associated with covering obesity-related conditions, and she's taken aim at limiting junk food purchases by welfare recipients in one of the most obese states in the country.
Rep. Mary Bentley filed House Bill 1035 last week to reduce what food stamp recipients are allowed to buy with their allotments.
Banning the use of food stamps for buying certain foods would require a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Commonly known as food stamps, these days recipients receive plastic cards to use at grocery stores and other retailers to buy food.
Food stamp recipients currently are barred from using the benefits to purchase alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, prepared foods and an assortment of other household items.
Read more: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/dec/11/bill-on-food-stamps-says-no-junk-foods-/?f=news-politics
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