Comments on: Bye Bye Potato Chips: Bill Would Eliminate Non-healthy Food From Aid Programs

By: from vermont

from vermont — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:18:15 +0000

States are not allowed to dictate what may or may not be purchased with EBT SNAP benefits. That is the sole purview of the USDA, and to date, USDA has declined all requests by states to make any modifications to the list of approved foods. I would hope the FL legislature has done enough research to be aware of this before pursuing this bill… Without a change in federal regulation, this bill is futile.

By: Tired of freeloaders

Tired of freeloaders — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 02:46:03 +0000

Future nurse, it is not the taxpayer’s responsiblity to check eveyone’s story. If you are so concerned about your autistic child’s sensory issues, then get a job to pay for the special food. Good grief. Stop coming up with every excuse in the book to justify us paying for your junk food.

By: Future nurse

Future nurse — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:09:58 +0000

Regulations are completely understandable, but what about children with special diets who need the more expensive items or children with texture sensitivities? If the government starts placing regulations on healthy/unhealthy foods, where is it going to stop? One of my children is autistic and will only eat certain foods, which aren’t necessarily the healthiest, but his health/weight are perfect. One of these foods is crackers, but he eats multiple boxes a day. It’s not something that anyone can change for some children/adults with developmental disorders or sensitivities.

Again, before judging, remember that not everyone lives the same life as you.

By: Future nurse

Future nurse — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:00:35 +0000

To tired of freeloaders: Congratulations on being so judgemental. I was simply trying to point out that you don’t know everyone’s story, so maybe you should always keep that in mind, no matter what the situation may be. You obviously don’t know my story, so who are you to judge me?

I do think that some restrictions would be a good idea, because there are always the people who are going to abuse the system.

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:23:35 +0000

We are the only country in the world where the largest number of overweight people are also the “poorest”. There is a problem with that?? I believe in helping others and it’s our duty but we (gov’t/taxpayers) are going beyond providing needs. In addition, we are helping aid in their health problems by providing junk-food and sodas. The taxpayers help fatten them up just to turn around and pay their medical bills with the Medicaid program. They should set up the food stamp program like the WIC program. We should help provide needs not wants. If they can make the EBT card only pay for groceries and “not covered” items now, all they have to do is extend the program further to not pay for anything but necessities.

By: layla

layla — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:39:33 +0000

Seriously, jealous because I can’t get foodstamps??? Seriously???
Most people receive foodstamps? Really???

Yesterday, in a local grocery store, I was in line behind an approx 24 yo girl with a huge baby bump, and 4 yo and 2 yo girls. She used WIC checks to buy milk, eggs and cereal and some canned juice. EBT purchased 6 twelve packs of store brand sodas, swiss cake rolls, pop tarts, about 12 of those frozen kiddie meals and 4 value packs of steaks and pork chops (at least they were ‘value’ packs..). She used CASH to buy two 24 packs of Miller Lite beer and a half roll of Skoal.

I was able to peruse her purchases because all those different forms of payment took a bit of time to process.

No jealousy on my part , just sadness that tax dollars enable this behavior and there is no education process to end the cycle. Other than the eggs and meats there was nothing of any real nutritional value in her purchases. Those canned juices are products of China and Argentina and that negates any nutrition they might have possessed. Those frozen kiddie meals are full of crap no human should really be ingesting much less feeding to their children. Spending cash on beer and tobacco that should have been spent on something better for the children that she is choosing to bring into this world.

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:04:40 +0000

REGARDING:
“I believe you too should be drug tested I you receive any assistants”

If you have an assistant, why are you on the dole?

David confused

By: bob hudson

bob hudson — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:00:31 +0000

Real simple, make it the same menu, as the first lady or as she likes to be called ,her highness , now wants all schools to go to.You wish to follow what the government wants, then that is what you shall be able to buy.when,you have your hand out,you have removed your chose of what you get. And anyone who receives this service should be drug tested.And if you do not agree, what makes you so special?

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:28:41 +0000

People with EBT should be able to buy way they want most of them pay taxes but need a little help such as single parents who are going to school tryingto make a career so they won’t be on government assistance all there life… I believe you too should be drug tested I you receive any assistants… People who agree with this whole change is nothing but jealous bcz im sure if you could get foodstamps you would… Not to mention the way the economy is these days who is to say you will always have a job… Then you too will apply for assistants and see that u cant buy your cokes, chips, or whatever it is your use to eating… When u eat a sandwich for lunch so u not eat a couple of chips with it to make it more filling or do u go home and cook a heathy lunch

By: SW

SW — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:13:15 +0000

How dare we interfere with people’s right to unlimited government assistance. We should just take that money from the evil rich taxpayers and give it to the poor helpless recipient and just stop right there; they know what they need and it should not be government’s place to restrict or to otherwise dictate how, or on what, that money should be spent.

How dare government interfere in people’s lives like that.