In the great state of Iowa, 39 Republican state legislators co-sponsored a bill that would drastically restrict the kinds of foods that can by purchased under SNAP (popularly known as food stamps).
Should the bill pass, recipients would be banned from using their SNAP benefit to purchase white bread, fresh meat (only canned tuna or salmon would be allowed), sliced cheeses, white rice, canned fruits, canned soups, butter, flour, and other several other pantry staples (Business Insider, Jan. 20).
Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley said that “these entitlement programs” like SNAP are getting in the way of funding other priorities. He did not specify what those other priorities might be.
I guess feeding Iowa’s poorest children is not one of them. Jesus wept, y’all.