The number of children in the U.S. relying on food stamps spiked to 16 million last year, signaling a lopsided economic recovery in which lower income families are still lagging behind.
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For a long time, conservatives have had a sneaking suspicion that welfare recipients have been using their food stamps to purchase luxury items, and they’ve been taking offense to the instances that have hit the radar. Now, a bill being pushed through by Rick Brattin, a Missouri state representative, seeks to limit what SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients can get with their benefit. If the bill passes, recipients would no longer be able to use their benefit for anything that is not within the umbrella of “nutrition assistance.” That means that food items such as junk food, energy drinks, sodas, sweets and even steaks and seafood are out of the question.
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The Washington Post reported April 6, that Kansas wants to take their limitations even further with House Bill 2258by banning welfare recipients from doing things like seeing movies or going swimming on the government’s dime. It’s an action that the supporters of the bill hope will encourage welfare recipients to spend their money more responsibly. “We’re trying to make sure those benefits are used the way they were intended,” said State Senator Michael O’Donnell, a Wichita Republican and advocate of the bill. “This is about prosperity. This is about having a great life.”
Both bills seem quite repressive, detracting from “a great life.” Democratic representative Carolyn Bridges from Wichita stated,“I just think we are simply saying to people, ‘If you are asking for assistance in this state, you’re sort of less than other people and we’re going to tell you how and where to spend your money.’”
While banning things such as junk food makes sense, it seems strange to ban anyone from allowing themselves a little reprieve such as a movie or even a steak for dinner. But here’s where it gets a little tricky. The Kansas bill also bans funds going towards body piercings, bail, tattoos, gambling, massages, cigarettes, mani-pedis, adult entertainment, theme parks, lingerie purchases, arcade outings, cruise ships and visits to psychics.
The Kansas governor believes that employment is the key for recipients to digging themselves out of poverty and has been supportive of measures towards that aim. The articles cited make no mention of those who are unable to work because of disabilities. And when asked about Missouri’s intent to ban seafood and steak, sponsor Brattin stated that his "intention wasn't to get rid of canned tuna and fish sticks," but people are abusing the system. "I have seen people purchasing filet mignons and crab legs with their EBT cards," he said. "When I can't afford it on my pay, I don't want people on the taxpayer's dime to afford those kinds of foods either."
Connecticut has taken another approach. Instead of placing limitations on their welfare programs, they seek to expand the acceptance of food stamps to include farmers’ markets, and not just in their state. “Accepting SNAP at farmers markets is a win-win-win situation,” said Kurt Messner, acting regional administrator of the Northeast Regional office for the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. “It gives farmers direct access to new customers; gives SNAP recipients access to healthy food; and encourages consumption of locally grown produce.”
It seems to be a good step to follow as long as proper marketing is done for SNAP recipients so they know that such options are available. Already, some farmers’ sales have considerably increased when they started accepting SNAP. But for the program to succeed, more SNAP recipients will need to be informed.
*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com
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