Lawmakers to hold hearing on food stamp, drug screen bills


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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican legislators have introduced a set of bills that would require food stamp users to buy healthy food and require drug screening for state job training program applicants and some unemployment benefit claimants.

The bills are on the Assembly's fast track. The body's Public Benefits Reform Committee has scheduled a public hearing on all the legislation for Thursday. All three ideas are priorities for Assembly Republicans.

The food stamp bill would require users to use at least two-thirds of their monthly benefits to purchase nutritional foods such as beef, chicken and fresh produce. Users would be barred from purchasing crab, lobster, shrimp or any other shellfish.

The federal government funds food stamp benefits. Legislators would need a waiver to impose limitations on food users could purchase. No state has ever received such a waiver, according to Wisconsin Grocers Association President Brandon Scholz.

The bill's author, Rep. Robert Brooks of Saukville, acknowledged as much but said the legislation still sends a message to the federal government that food assistance programs must be reformed.

"The program was intended to be a supplemental nutritional program, not a step-up in lifestyle," he said.

The Assembly passed a similar bill last session but it never got a vote in the Senate amid opposition from an array of organizations and businesses, including the Hunger Task Force, Kwik Trip, Inc., PepsiCo, Inc., Kraft Foods Group Inc. and the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families.

Nine groups have registered against Brooks' bill since he introduced it on April 22, many of them the same opponents as last time, according to the state Government Accountability Board. No organizations have registered in support.

The grocers association was neutral on that bill as well as Brooks' proposal. Scholz maintains, however, that stores lack the technology to determine when someone has exhausted benefits allowed for healthy food.

The Hunger Task Force, meanwhile, contends the bill would force stamp users to spend more of their benefits for less food since the healthy items listed in the bill are generally more expensive than items not on the list. The bill also would drive business toward certain food manufacturers, the task force argues.

"We call that one the supermarket nanny bill," Hunger Task Force Executive Director Sherrie Tussler said. "It's just a waste of resources and a ton of hot air from our legislative people."

Rohrkaste has introduced a bill that would require applicants for state-administered job training programs such as Wisconsin Works to answer a questionnaire that screens for drug abuse. Based on the answers, the state or contractors administering the programs can order the applicant to undergo a state-funded drug test. If the test is positive the person must participate in state-sponsored drug treatment to remain eligible for the training programs. He or she would be allowed one positive test during treatment.

Rohrkaste has authored another bill that would impose the same requirements on anyone applying for unemployment benefits if the state Department of Workforce Development determines the applicant is suitable for work in an occupation that regularly tests for drugs, such as the trucking industry.

Republican Gov. Scott Walker's budget contains almost identical drug-screening requirements. Rohrkaste said he introduced the bills separately so he could make technical revisions in the language and facilitate deeper debate.

"This is more a preventative issue than a hurdle or a hoop," Rohrkaste said. "This is a way to ensure (workers) can pass employers' drug tests."

No groups had registered in support or in opposition as of Tuesday.

Rep. Andy Jorgenson, D-Milton, a member of the public benefits committee, said in a statement the bills might help Republicans score points with their base but could cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars for testing.

"We can and should strive to make the most of the 'safety net' programs Wisconsin offers," Jorgensen said, "and in turn, be good stewards of taxpayer money, but drug testing clearly will not help us achieve those goals."

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