Rep. Heather Meyer pushed back against claims made by an outside lobbying group during a Feb. 13 committee hearing. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)
TOPEKA — Legislation that would prevent Kansans from purchasing soft drinks and candy with food stamps met resistance Tuesday, continuing a series of hearings over what changes are needed to help the state’s most vulnerable residents.
Two Democrats on the House Welfare Reform committee said the committee, headed by Rep. Francis Awerkamp, R-St. Marys, has been inundated by bills that are unhelpful at the least.
Rep. Ford Carr, D-Wichita, said he was “appalled and upset” by committee activities.
“It just seems like the members of this committee that are Republicans and most of the Republican party, instead of making efforts to do things that are going to be beneficial for the residents of this state, they pick on a small and select group of individuals and those individuals are the poor and underserved,” Carr said.
The latest bill , heard Tuesday, was requested for introduction by Awerkamp. It would have the Department of Children and Families secretary request a waiver from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program allowing the state to prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance benefits. If the request was denied, the secretary would send annual requests asking for the change until the waiver is granted.