Food Stamps Are Too Valuable to Waste on Junk Food

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March 23 (Bloomberg) -- The Florida Legislature just spenta couple of weeks debating a reasonable question: Why shouldU.S. taxpayers pay for the junk food people buy with foodstamps?

A bill that would have imposed limits on purchases of softdrinks, potato chips and some other foods was drafted, but diedamid complaints by anti-hunger groups and industry lobbyists.Similar efforts in other states have also failed, mainly on thesame objections: Constraints on food stamp use would amount togovernment interference in personal choice and stigmatizerecipients. The rules also would be too complicated to carryout.