By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services
Key Points
- The soda ban passed the Legislature, but failed to get approval from the governor
- A ban on food coloring in products sold at schools was still approved
- The debate over processed foods and food stamps is likely to reach the national stage
Food stamp recipients will not be denied the ability to use their benefits to purchase sodas, at least not now, and not in Arizona.
In a veto message on April 15, Gov. Katie Hobbs said she appreciates that the intent of HB2165 is to “improve the health outcomes of Arizonans.” But the governor said that’s not sufficient to have Arizona ask permission from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to let the state take sodas off the list of eligible purchases.
“This legislation unnecessarily deprives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants of their purchasing power and relegates them to a new underclass of grocery shoppers,” Hobbs wrote.
