Good idea or bad idea? Not to allow the use of food stamps to purchase luxury items.Would this idea fly in Illinois? Yes, currently purchases of energy drinks, steak, lobster and other luxury food items are allowed with the Illinois link card. Officials are waiting to see what happens in the state of New York.

Fox32Chicago reports that a legislator in New York has introduced a bill in that state that would disallow the use of funds from the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program purchase "luxury foods" including:

  • Lobster
  • Steak
  • Decorated Cakes
  • Energy Drinks

This program is similar to Illinois' Link Card program.

The Illinois link program disallows the purchase of:

  • Beer
  • Wine
  • Cigarettes and Tobacco
  • Alcohol
  • Non-Food items

The bill was introduced by Republican State Sen. Patty Ritchie, of Oswegatchie, N.Y. who says:

At a time when our state and nation are struggling with an obesity epidemic, it is critically important that taxpayer-funded programs help low-income consumers make wise and healthy food choices

Do you this Illinois should consider this idea, if so, what items should be eliminated from the link program?

Read more HERE

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