WASHINGTON, DC – Today, a coalition effort of 13 limited-government and free-market organizations, led by the Hispanic Leadership Fund, sent a letter to House and Senate Agriculture leaders in advance of Farm Bill discussions later this month, objecting to any restrictive language or proposed inclusion of the Healthy SNAP Act.
Last year, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the Healthy SNAP Act which would impose product restrictions on existing eligible grocery items covered under SNAP. The coalition argues allowing the federal government to pick and choose what consumers can buy would be a significant overreach and is likely to result in higher taxes across the board.
Mario H. Lopez, president of the Hispanic Leadership Fund, said “including any restrictive provisions into the next Farm Bill would empower federal government bureaucrats to drive everyday Americans’ grocery carts, endangering consumer choice.” He continued, “restricting SNAP choices would not yield either cost savings or health benefits, but set a precedent for government intrusion into all American purchasing decisions.“
See here for the letter.