Missouri lawmakers have proposed desperate measures in an order to keep food stamp recipients from buying foods with little to no nutritional value. The problem? The new law would prohibit the purchase of seafood and steak.
“The intention of the bill is to get the food stamp program back to its original intent, which is nutrition assistance,” said Missouri Rep, Rick Brattin (R), who is sponsoring the bill, to the Chicago Tribune.
Cue the backlash. Many have spoken out against the bill, saying that this is the government’s way of controlling low-income families (most households in Missouri who receive food stamps get less than $200 per person per month) and pointing out that those individuals who splurge on a lobster might have scraped by on the bare minimum the month before.
Brattin admitted that the wording in his bill might need to be changed (he told the Tribune that he didn’t mean to ban the purchasing of “canned tuna and fishsticks”), but he thinks that it will stop people from abusing the system.
What do you think? Should the government be able to regulate foods, like steak and seafood, that food stamp recipients can receive, or is that infringing on their rights? Take our poll and leave us a comment telling us how much say you think lawmakers should have.
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