House asks feds to put ‘soft drinks’ on same list as alcohol, tobacco advances

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What groceries people buy and their role in society’s ills came under lengthy debate, as a House Memorial advanced asking the feds to prohibit soda purchases with government food assistance.

But that did not go down easily with Democrats, who were united against the measure (HM 581) that Republican Rep. Ralph Massullo filed. He brought his authority as a doctor to champion the measure in front of the House Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee.

The memorial would put the House on record with a request that soft drinks be added to the list of items that can’t be purchased using federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds.

There’s a lot at stake, Massullo declared. He said the cost is beyond soft drinks being the No. 1 purchase item, accounting for 5% of the $70 billion in SNAP funds the government expends.

“And what do we have from that?” he asked rhetorically. “We have a society today, particularly our young people, in this state of Florida, that by 2035, 50% will be obese. Fifty percent. Those figures are even higher in the local socioeconomic strata, which often includes minorities.”

And that’s only the beginning of the slippery slope whetted with carbonated refreshment, Massullo contended.

“What does that translate to? Higher rates of hypertension, higher rates of diabetes and there’s been studies to show that these individuals end up being less productive in our society and often on further government programs as they age.”

If the feds heed the Legislature’s recommendation, soda would get on the same list as alcoholic beverages, tobacco and hot items designed for immediate consumption, which also can’t be bought with SNAP funds.

Democrats appeared thirsty for debate on this, however. Discussion of using public funds for beverage purchases went on for more than 30 minutes.

Rep. Rita Harris said that when she and her husband were in financial difficulties, nights in front of the TV with soda and popcorn were a treasured and inexpensive escape.

“I don’t want to get into a conversation about what people on these benefits can and can’t buy,” the Orlando Democrat said.

Rep. Dotie Joseph  raised the problems of policing these choices as she lifted a can of Mountain Dew she said she drinks instead of coffee for the caffeine, eliciting a lighthearted warning from the Committee Chair, Republican Rep. Traci Koster.

“We’re not allowed to use prompts without prior approval from the (House) Rules (Committee) Chair,” Koster said. “I’m just going to assume you’re really thirsty.”

Joseph also noted that she doesn’t believe there’s been any correlation between beverages, carbonation and health problems since not all of the beverages that would be verboten under this recommendation contain the oft-demonized high fructose corn syrup correlated with health risks.

An identical memorial (SM 814) from Republican Sen. Joe Gruters is on the Senate Agriculture Committee agenda next week.