A Republican member of the New York State Senate wants to introduce a bill to prevent people on food stamps purchasing luxury food items and stop them getting fat.
The Independent reports:
Republican State Senator Patty Ritchie wants to prevent folks from buying high-end items such as steaks and lobsters. She also wants to limit the purchases of non-nutritional items like decorated cakes and energy drinks.
“At a time when our state and nation are struggling with an obesity epidemic, it is critically important that taxpayer-funded programs help low-income consumers make wise and healthy food choices,” the bill states.
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Republican lawmakers have long sought restrictions on what EBT card holders can purchase. However, such restrictions will likely falter in the Democratic controlled Assembly.
“The purpose of is to promote good nutrition, but current rules allow the purchase of junk food and luxury items like high-end steaks and lobster,” the legislation states. “Even certain energy drinks, which are subject to sales tax, can be purchased using taxpayer-funded benefit cards.”
“In New York and throughout the United States, obesity has reached epidemic proportions,” the bill states. “The goal of this legislation is to improve dietary quality and reduce obesity by ensuring food and beverage items purchased using public benefit cards have been declared exempt by the Department of Taxation and Finance.”
