Madison…Representative Clint Moses (R-Menomonie) gave testimony in the Wisconsin State Senate on Senate Bill 154, a bill to ban the purchase of soda and candy when using SNAP benefits. 18 other states have already signed similar versions of this bill into law including Indiana, Iowa, Virginia, Nebraska, and Colorado.
“In Wisconsin, 67% of SNAP recipients are on Medicaid and over half of Medicaid recipients are on pharmaceutical drugs,” said Representative Moses. “So many people on the SNAP program are using their benefits to purchase soda and candy, with minimal funds being used on actual nutritional foods.”
Research from the National Institutes of Health shows that junk food such as soda and candy are leading contributors to preventable diseases like diabetes and obesity, which disproportionately affect low-income communities. This bill would ensure families have access to healthier options while protecting taxpayer investments in health care.
“It’s time to end the subsidy on poison and ensure the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is actually supplying people with nutritious food, not Snickers bars and Mtn. Dew.” concluded Representative Moses.
Rep. Moses welcomes any questions or concerns regarding the bill. He can be reached at (608) 237-9192 or by e-mail at Rep.Moses@legis.wisconsin.gov. Constituents are encouraged to follow Representative Moses on Facebook and Instagram.
