Wisconsin GOPers declare cheese a junk food.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Not sure how popular will this be among their constituents.

http://www.nbc15.com/news/health/headlines/Wis-Committee-to-Vote-on-Junk-Food-Stamp-Bill-205359391.html

Members of the state affairs committee are approving a bill that limits the amount of junk food that can be purchased with food stamp benefits.

...

The bill's author says he's trying to encourage healthier eating, but at least one opponent says it could hurt a major piece of the state's economy: the dairy industry. "This bill does not allow for Wisconsinites who are utilizing the FoodShare program to purchase sharp cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese, shredded cheese or reduced sodium cheeses," said State Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa, D-Milwaukee. "And I just want to indicate again how that hurts not just those individuals, those Wisconsinites using the FoodShare program.....but it hurts our dairy farmers."

[Benj]

Well, they're right. Cheese is no healthier than Doritos. If we're going to have restrictions on food stamps such that they can only purchase healthy foods (maybe a debatable point itself, but taking it for granted), then cheese is pretty much unequivocally off the list of permitted foods, whether the local dairy farmers like it or not. Federal government subsidies for cheese and other unhealthy dairy (not at issue here, I know, but still) are some of the most shameful subsidies in the country, only outdone by the corn/corn syrup/ethanol/sugar tariff debauchery.

Of course, an administrative agency should probably be the ones making that decision, but especially in Wisconsin (in the case of the dairy industry), and also in DC, they're often captured by industry interests. Surprised that the legislature in Wisconsin isn't, to be honest.

I do love cheese, though.

[This user has not been convicted of 34 felonies]

GOP declares war on cheese, Dean Kaufert to lead the charge

[Joe Republic]

Junk food is part of the staple diet among typical midwesterners and Republicans anyway, so I don't see how this affects anything.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I do love how it's couched in a proposal to direct foodstamp benefits to "healthier" foods, but it's actually just an obvious stealth attempt to just limit the foodstamp program. Republicans should not be trusted with any government program.

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

Cheese isn't healthy!?

Okay, that's definitely news to me.

[Indy Texas 🇺🇦🇵🇸]

Why not just abandon all restraint and limit food stamp use to purchases of gruel, stale bread and water?

[Citizen (The) Doctor]

So is that whole stereotype regarding Wisconsin and cheese true?

[Ban my account ffs!]

"drown it in a bathtub" comes to mind. 

Republicans follow only one philosophy:  That government is incompetent and you should vote them in so they can prove it.

[John Dibble]

Cheese isn't healthy!?

Okay, that's definitely news to me.

It's a mixed bag - it's high in calories and fat, but also high in calcium and protein. Basically it's the standard thing with dairy in general. You just need to eat it in moderation, and a balanced diet can involve cheese.

[badgate]

American children are too constipated?

[memphis]

I would like to see junk food disqualified from SNAP. It would be the most effective way to fight food deserts in poor neighborhoods. I have no problem with cheese though. Unlike soda and candy.

[H. Ross Peron]

I always wondered about how food stamps were applied for junk food. That said, while this may be a good idea in principle, cheese isn't automatic junk food and good in moderation as long as this doesn't extend to include Cheese whiz and nacho dips.

[Fuzzybigfoot]

Michelle Obama is a douche for trying to get gets to eat healthily at school.   But controlling what poor people eat is perfectly moral. 

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

cheese = junk food
pizza = vegetable

[This user has not been convicted of 34 felonies]

cheese = junk food
pizza = vegetable

[politicallefty]

They can forfeit their title then. After all, happy cows come from California.

[minionofmidas]

Processed cheese is, in fact, junk food, of course.

[後援会]

The American tendency to spray cheese all over everything they eat is probably responsible for just as much obesity as traditional "junk foods".

[rejectamenta]

Most cheeses are an acceptable source of fat and complete protein for anyone who is even moderately active. Do not be swayed by the soy "milk" guzzling nancies!