COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Some state lawmakers want to restrict what the 1.4 million Ohioans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can buy. 

“Consumers everywhere of all income levels deserve the freedom to choose,” Senior Vice President at American Beverage Merideth Potter said.

“I don’t think we should have a policy in the state where we’re essentially subsidizing diabetes in children by buying pop with food stamps,” Ohio House Finance Chairperson Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) said. 

Currently, the state’s operating budget requires Ohio’s director of job and family services to submit a request to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a waiver to restrict SNAP benefits from being used to buy “sugar-sweetened beverages” in Ohio. If the wavier is not approved, then the state is directed to resubmit for the waiver each year until it is.  

“These are decisions that have always been left to families when it comes to what their families eat and drink,” Potter said. 

“I think if people are using their own money, they have the freedom to do whatever they want with that money, and if you’re using the taxpayer’s money to buy your food, then taxpayers have an ability to say, ‘We’re not going to buy junk food with it,’” Stewart said. 

Stewart said the measure solely impacts soda pop; he said drinks like milk, juice or Pedialyte will not be impacted by the waiver should the state receive it. 

This is not unique to Ohio; several other states are also looking to put restrictions on the use of SNAP benefits and the secretary of the USDA has signaled that she is in favor of these sorts of bans.  

Potter said the bans don’t help with health outcomes. 

“Nearly 60% of everything our industry sells today has zero sugar, and that’s not by accident,” Potter said. “That innovation has given consumers everywhere a variety of choices. That actually changed consumer behavior, as opposed to restrictions and bans.” 

In the past, attempts to restrict what can be purchased using SNAP have been shot down by the USDA. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. said he is in favor of these sorts of restrictions. 

The provision is currently in the pending state budget, which passed the Ohio House last week and is now in the Ohio Senate for consideration.  

Lawmakers are on spring break for the next two weeks, so no action will be taken right away.  

If the provision does pass in the budget, Gov. Mike DeWine does have the ability to line-item veto. 

The budget must pass the statehouse by July 1.