Kansas lawmakers have passed a bill that would ban recipients of food assistance programs from purchasing certain products.
Specifically, the bill in question would bar recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds from using them to purchase certain candies and sugary drinks by asking the Kansas Department of Children and Families to request a waiver from the US Department of Agriculture, the agency that oversees the program, to exclude candy and soft drinks from SNAP benefits. The bill defines candy as “preparation of sugar, honey or other sweeteners in combination with fruits, nuts or chocolate in the form of bars, drops or pieces.”
Certain products, such as Kit-Kat bars and Twinkies would still be covered under the snap program as the bill excludes any products that include flour and does not require refrigeration. Meanwhile, soft drinks would include any products that contain natural or artificial sweeteners and exclude any drinks that contain milk, soy, rice or that are more than 50 percent juice in volume.
Supporters of the bill have claimed it is a tool to help promote healthy food options with Wichita Republican Brian Bergkamp stating in a recent article published by the Topeka Capital-Journal, “I think the key word in today’s bill is nutrition, it’s the process of providing or obtaining food necessary for growth. I think that’s the ultimate goal of this bill is to move us in a healthier direction.”
Meanwhile, opposition to the bill has claimed it is “an attempt to micromanage the groceries of people with low income.”
The bill passed the Senate by a supermajority vote but was 19 votes shy of a supermajority in the House of Representatives with a 65-58 margin.
