Maine Threatens to Pull Out of SNAP

The governor is considering ending the state’s participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program if it can’t forbid candy and sugar-sweetened drink purchases.

June 24, 2016

PORTLAND, Maine – Maine Gov. Paul LePage doesn’t want his state allowing the purchase of candy and sugary drinks with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Portland Press Herald reports. The governor sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) demanding that Maine be allowed to forbid using food stamps for certain foods or the state will stop administrating the program.

“It’s time for the federal government to wake up and smell the energy drinks,” wrote LePage in the letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Doubtful that it will, I will be pursuing options to implement reform unilaterally, or cease Maine’s administration of the food stamp program altogether. You maintain such a broken program that I do not want my name attached to it.”

While the federal government funds SNAP, states hand out the monthly benefits to individuals. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) expressed dismay about the governor’s threats, citing how harmful pulling out of SNAP could be for Maine residents. “We are literally talking about taking the food off the table of Maine families struggling to make ends meet,” said Pingree. “SNAP is a program funded by the federal government, but the law is clear—it’s up to the states to run it. If Maine were to pull out of SNAP, then Maine people would not have access to it. Families that depend on SNAP—seniors, children, veterans—would go hungry. This is not how we treat each other in Maine.”

LePage has been making changes to public assistance initiatives since taking office in 2010. He has attempted to pass measures restricting what SNAP users can purchase, but hasn’t had success. The USDA has added ways for SNAP recipients to buy more healthful foods, such as working with farmers markets to accept food stamps. During the past five years, SNAP purchases at farmers markets in Maine jumped 860%, according to USDA data.

Meanwhile, last month, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee passed an amendment that would block provisions in the SNAP rule to allow convenience stores to continue participating in the program. Although the ill-advised SNAP regulations are in trouble, the battle is not quite over. The House and Senate Fiscal Year 2017 Agriculture Appropriations bills now await consideration by the full House and Senate. If the bills pass their respective chambers, they will go to conference before a final bill will be sent to the president.

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