It can be argued that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is doing more harm than good but for today let’s focus on the good: Make America Healthy Again is a worthwhile goal.
Health Secretary Kennedy and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollin have urged states to strip foods regarded as unhealthy from the $100 billion federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which serves 42 million Americans.
In Kansas, a bill that would have prohibited the purchase of candy and soft drinks (non-alcoholic, sweetened beverages) with food assistance has its merits.
It failed in 2025 but may come up again. On Jan. 1, residents in five other states – Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia – saw new restrictions on foods they can buy with government assistance benefits. More than a dozen other states have shown interest in enacting waivers prohibiting the purchase of certain foods through SNAP, often referred to as food stamps.
Last year, Senate Bill No. 79 would have directed the secretary of the Department for Children and Families to request a waiver from the SNAP to create that ban. The bill passed the Senate in February with Republicans largely supporting it. Governor Laura Kelly vetoed it in April. The Senate voted to override the veto but the House did not take up the bill, effectively killing the legislation.
The goal was to promote healthier eating among participants of SNAP. The mechanism was to mandate for the Kansas Secretary for Children and Families to seek a federal waiver from the USDA for the exclusion.
Here’s what the governor said about her veto:
“The waiver required by this bill is confusing and will cause problems for our grocers and small businesses. Under the definition in that waiver, Kansas businesses would be mandated to stop accepting food assistance benefits for protein bars, trail mix, and other food products many would consider ‘healthy.’ Meanwhile, items like Twix, Kit Kat, and Twizzlers would still be eligible for purchase using food assistance benefits. It’s nonsensical.
“I support the idea that Kansans should eat healthier. However, changes to the SNAP food assistance program should be made at the federal level, not on a patchwork, state-by-state basis.”
The reason Twix and Twizzlers were safe under the bill was because many legal and tax codes define “candy” as treats that do not contain flour. The sweets Kelly named contain flour. This technical loophole would still ban Hershey bars, Snickers, Starburt and other sweets that do not contain flour.
Kansas Action for Children also made a strong case in opposition to this bill. Part of its written testimony stated:
“If we want Kansas families who receive food assistance to eat healthier, perhaps we should first address the systemic issues that leave entire communities without access to healthy foods. We are eager to work with lawmakers to explore funding mechanisms to support local grocery stores in food deserts, or to require dollar stores to carry produce and other healthy products. However, we do not believe SB 79 is a productive way to improve outcomes and will only result in Kansas families having less money to pay their bills.”
Taxpayers tend to disdain programs they consider wasteful or unfair. Last year, they were furious to learn that it is possible to buy caviar and lobster with SNAP benefits. Is that really a problem? If our goal is to shame poor people and make sure their kids can’t have a sweet now and then (or force them to eat licorice), that is mean-spirited and petty. But a goal to help Americans of all stripes learn to eat healthier could be worthwhile – if done right.
Susan Thacker is editor of the Great Bend Tribune. Send comments to sthacker@gbtribune.com.
