State Representative Brad Paquette (R-Niles) introduced legislation last Thursday that would prevent food stamps from being used to purchase soda. Paquette’s House Bill 4305 would require the Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to request a federal waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibiting the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase soda products.

“Michigan taxpayers should not be required to fund poor food consumption,” Paquette said. “This legislation is in no way calling for low-income individuals to be stripped of the assistance they currently receive to feed themselves and their families, but we have to recognize that this assistance is a privilege and comes at the expense of taxpaying workers. We should ensure that SNAP beneficiaries are not using this program in a way that is both exorbitant and palpably harmful to themselves.”

House Bill 4305 provides that if the Department of Agriculture denies the MDHHS’s legislatively directed request for a waiver, the MDHHS will be required to request the waiver annually until it is granted. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Health Policy. Paquette expressed his hope that his colleagues will join his effort in ensuring taxpayer dollars go towards healthier food choices.

“Soda is among the most nutritionally detrimental food options available,” Paquette said. “The N in SNAP stands for nutrition. Taxpayer dollars should provide assistance for those in need to obtain food and drink that brings nourishment to the body. Pop or soda has zero nutritional benefit and therefore should not be purchasable under this assistance program.”