Published on Monday, May 6, 2013 by PR Watch
Wisconsin Bill Would Treat Organic Milk, Sharp Cheddar, Brown Eggs as "Junk Food"
Junk food? (Photo: sgrace/flickr)Wisconsin
ranks 44th in the nation for new job creation. Rather than rolling up
their sleeves and finding new and innovative ways to help create jobs,
the Wisconsin legislature is spending its time telling people needing
food assistance what they should be eating. AB 110, which will be up for
a vote in the Assembly on Tuesday, May 7, is geared toward
limiting "the amount of food stamp benefits that could be spent on junk food."
But some of the fine print of the bill, bizarrely, would ban people
from choosing more healthy and less expensive options for their
families. The bill is one of many being considered that are
unduly punitive of the poor.
As of March 2013, 858,000 Wisconsinites receive FoodShare benefits. The bill, AB 110,
would limit FoodShare, Wisconsin's food stamp program funded through
the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). As the
Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) has reported,
Governor Scott Walker has already proposed to require all "able-bodied
adults" who receive food stamps (and don't have dependent children) to
train or search for work in order to continue receiving those benefits.
This even though Walker has failed to create the 250,000 jobs he
promised when running for office in 2010.
Now Representative Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) is sponsoring another bill to further limit FoodShare. Kaufert told the Wisconsin Radio Network that the bill would make it so that a benefit recipient "can't buy six bags of nachos and four cases of soda."
Specifically, the amended program would allow only a third of an individual's FoodShare benefits to be spent on a full range of food as they currently can be. The remaining two-thirds would be subject to the same restrictions as the federal Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutritional program, with some small modifications. (Both programs, of course, bar restaurant food, cigarettes, alcohol, and pet foods.)
WIC is a federal program intended to supplement food stamp benefits for a particularly vulnerable population of women and young children. As such, it has strict -- and at times very odd -- guidelines to focus these supplemental food dollars on nutritionally dense staple foods.
Wisconsin's
AB 110 would mandate that two-thirds of a person's FoodShare benefits
could be spent only on foods on the WIC-approved list. Exemptions have
been added so recipients can also purchase fish, beef, pork, chicken,
and potatoes. Strangely, exemptions were not added so that the "healthy"
two-thirds could also be spent on a full range of healthy Wisconsin
farm products and fresh food.
The result is that the bulk of your FoodShare dollars can be spent on milk, but not organic milk; on eggs, but only on white eggs by the dozen, not on brown, free-range, or organic eggs; on 100 percent whole wheat bread, but not on gluten-free bread for those with Celiac disease; on slices of American cheese, but not sharp cheddar. FoodShare dollars can be spent on dry beans, but not if they come from a money-saving bulk bin at your local food coop. You can get juice boxes for your children, but only Juicy Juice brand juice boxes.
In order for the state Department of Health Services to implement changes to FoodShare purchasing guidelines, it would need to attain a federal waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). But when Minnesota tried to prohibit purchase of candy or soda in 2004, and New York City tried to ban purchase of certain sugary drinks in 2010, both waiver requests were denied. The USDA points out the lack of clear standards to define foods as healthy or unhealthy.
In addition to Rep. Kaufert, AB 110's supporters include Representatives John Nygren (R-Marinette), Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls), Ed Brooks (R-Reedsburg), Jeff Stone (R-Greendale), Paul Tittl (R-Manitowoc), Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay), Samantha Kerkman (R-Powers Lake), Scott Krug (R-Wisconsin Rapids), Pat Strachota (R-West Bend), Daniel LeMahieu (R-Cascade), Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), Mike Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin), Michael Schraa (R-Oshkosh), Alvin Ott (R-Forest Junction), Mike Endsley (R-Sheboygan), Jeffrey Mursau (R-Crivitz), and Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City). In the Senate, the bill's supporters include Senators Robert Cowles (R-Shawano), Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan), Frank Lasee (R-Casco), and Glenn Grothman (R-Fond du Lac).
As Wisconsin Assemblymembers gather to vote on this bill May 7, these elected officials should to hear from those whose lives and food choices would be directly affected by the bill.
As of March 2013, 858,000 Wisconsinites receive FoodShare benefits. The bill, AB 110,
would limit FoodShare, Wisconsin's food stamp program funded through
the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). As the
Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) has reported,
Governor Scott Walker has already proposed to require all "able-bodied
adults" who receive food stamps (and don't have dependent children) to
train or search for work in order to continue receiving those benefits.
This even though Walker has failed to create the 250,000 jobs he
promised when running for office in 2010.Now Representative Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) is sponsoring another bill to further limit FoodShare. Kaufert told the Wisconsin Radio Network that the bill would make it so that a benefit recipient "can't buy six bags of nachos and four cases of soda."
Specifically, the amended program would allow only a third of an individual's FoodShare benefits to be spent on a full range of food as they currently can be. The remaining two-thirds would be subject to the same restrictions as the federal Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutritional program, with some small modifications. (Both programs, of course, bar restaurant food, cigarettes, alcohol, and pet foods.)
WIC is a federal program intended to supplement food stamp benefits for a particularly vulnerable population of women and young children. As such, it has strict -- and at times very odd -- guidelines to focus these supplemental food dollars on nutritionally dense staple foods.
Wisconsin's
AB 110 would mandate that two-thirds of a person's FoodShare benefits
could be spent only on foods on the WIC-approved list. Exemptions have
been added so recipients can also purchase fish, beef, pork, chicken,
and potatoes. Strangely, exemptions were not added so that the "healthy"
two-thirds could also be spent on a full range of healthy Wisconsin
farm products and fresh food.The result is that the bulk of your FoodShare dollars can be spent on milk, but not organic milk; on eggs, but only on white eggs by the dozen, not on brown, free-range, or organic eggs; on 100 percent whole wheat bread, but not on gluten-free bread for those with Celiac disease; on slices of American cheese, but not sharp cheddar. FoodShare dollars can be spent on dry beans, but not if they come from a money-saving bulk bin at your local food coop. You can get juice boxes for your children, but only Juicy Juice brand juice boxes.
In order for the state Department of Health Services to implement changes to FoodShare purchasing guidelines, it would need to attain a federal waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). But when Minnesota tried to prohibit purchase of candy or soda in 2004, and New York City tried to ban purchase of certain sugary drinks in 2010, both waiver requests were denied. The USDA points out the lack of clear standards to define foods as healthy or unhealthy.
As Bill Approaches Vote, Public Input Needed
According to the Associated Press, the Assembly committee heard input from food companies, grocery stores, and food banks. They told Wisconsin lawmakers that restrictions "would shame recipients and burden businesses with enforcement." Democrats on the committee -- who voted against the measure -- said it "would stigmatize poor people who already have limited options in buying food."In addition to Rep. Kaufert, AB 110's supporters include Representatives John Nygren (R-Marinette), Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls), Ed Brooks (R-Reedsburg), Jeff Stone (R-Greendale), Paul Tittl (R-Manitowoc), Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay), Samantha Kerkman (R-Powers Lake), Scott Krug (R-Wisconsin Rapids), Pat Strachota (R-West Bend), Daniel LeMahieu (R-Cascade), Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), Mike Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin), Michael Schraa (R-Oshkosh), Alvin Ott (R-Forest Junction), Mike Endsley (R-Sheboygan), Jeffrey Mursau (R-Crivitz), and Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City). In the Senate, the bill's supporters include Senators Robert Cowles (R-Shawano), Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan), Frank Lasee (R-Casco), and Glenn Grothman (R-Fond du Lac).
As Wisconsin Assemblymembers gather to vote on this bill May 7, these elected officials should to hear from those whose lives and food choices would be directly affected by the bill.
© 2013 Center for Media & Democracy
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