Joni Kay Ernst, senator from Iowa, introduced the so-called McSCUSE ME Act, a bill aimed at controlling tens of millions of dollars from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP) that the benefited citizens end up exchanging for fast food through their coupons.
The 55-year-old Republican argues that, In just nine states, American taxpayers are paying nearly $250 million a year in SNAP benefits that are spent on fast food.
The entities identified as being enrolled in the SNAP program called the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) are: Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Rhode Island and Virginia — all of them governed by Democrats except Virginia.
It should be noted that SNAP was created in 1964 with the goal of providing basic foods, such as meats, fruits and vegetables, to people with economic difficulties.
Later, the program was expanded to include people with disabilities, older adults and their spouses.
However, in 1977, controversy arose when, taking advantage of a legal loophole, states were allowed to participate in the RMP.
At that time, it was argued that homeless people lacked a kitchen in which to prepare their food purchased thanks to SNAP coupons, hence the option of allowing them to be exchanged at fast food establishments.
That is why some restaurant chains sign agreements with the states registered with the RMP and then the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the one in charge of approving them.
Nevertheless, Senator Ernst questions how beneficial it can be for needy families to feed themselves with products from McDonald’s, Domino’s Pizza or Jack in the Box.
“The ‘N’ in SNAP stands for nutrition, not nuggets and fries. I wish I could be joking, but $250 million a year on fast food is no joke and represents a serious waste of taxpayer money. I’m sorry to have to say it, but something has to be done because taxpayers are very dissatisfied,” he said.
In this regard, The McSCUSE ME Act aims, among other things, to give priority to supermarkets with hot food service so that SNAP coupons can be exchanged there, This would ensure greater availability of healthy prepared food options.
With respect to the states participating in the RMP, they would be required to submit annual public reports indicating the number of providers participating in said program, the number of beneficiaries and the total cost that this implies.
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