LePage Official Pushes for Food Stamp Junk Food Ban

Republican Maine Gov. Paul LePage's administration wants permission from the federal government to ban the use of food stamps to buy junk food.

LePage's administration is backing a bill from Republican Sen. Roger Katz that would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to request a waiver from the federal government to restrict the purchase of certain products, like soda, chips and candy.

A similar measure was defeated in 2013.

Opponents told the Health and Human Services Committee Thursday that limiting the kinds of food people can buy isn't the right approach and noted that such a wavier has never been granted.

They're backing a measure from Democratic Sen. Chris Johnson that seeks to help nonprofit organizations create programs to improve the diets of people in the food stamp program.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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