WISCONSIN (WFRV) – Governor Tony Evers signed a bill putting $70 million into Wisconsin’s FoodShare program.
But the law also requires the state to ask the U.S. Department of Agriculture for permission to ban using SNAP benefits on items like candy and soda.
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“It’s truly a compromise in my opinion,” said Oshkosh Area Community Pantry Executive Director Ryan Rasmussen. “That $70 million will be coming to the state, and there will be a lot of new requirements that SNAP benefits will have to abide by.”
Rasmussen said the funding is critical to continue running the FoodShare program smoothly.
“As it stands right now, Wisconsin is in a good place; our error rate is at a good threshold. But what happens if we go over that error rate?” Rasmussen said. “There will be less money going to SNAP benefits in Wisconsin, and we can’t let that happen.”
He said the possible restrictions on certain foods raise concerns about fairness.
“There are already stereotypes for folks on SNAP benefits and those who have to use pantries, and I think this further brings this to light,” Rasmussen said. “We are all the same people, and we should be allowed to make choices we need to.”
Leaders at St. Joseph Food Program Inc. told Local 5 that the focus should remain on nutrition, emphasizing what SNAP stands for.
“We’ve always had a focus on nutritious food; we aren’t really helping people without giving them stuff that’s not nutritious. The name of SNAP is supplemental nutrition,” said Monica Clare, executive director at the pantry.
The restriction is not in place yet and will need federal approval before taking effect.
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In a statement, Gov. Tony Evers said, “After months of urging and asking the Legislature to approve these funds, I am glad to be able to sign this bill today so we can continue to provide for the more than 700,000 Wisconsinites who rely on FoodShare and depend on the state to support this critical program and keep our error rates low.
“In spite of the chaos at the federal level and the continued attacks on our FoodShare program, I am proud of the work my administration has done over the past year to ensure our kids, families, veterans and seniors across our state receive the resources they need to access basic food and groceries. As long as I am governor, I will continue to do everything in my power to protect Wisconsin families and taxpayers from the harmful decisions of the Trump Administration.”
