Texas state legislators are taking fresh aim at energy drinks, soda and candy. Rep. Briscoe Cain, a Republican who represents Baytown in the Houston area, filed a bill last month in the House Committee for Human Services that would bar people from using food stamps to pay for energy drinks, candy and other junk foods.
The Texas bill aims to curb the spread of diabetes and other health problems linked to poor diet.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP or food stamps, provides nutrition assistance to about 42 million Americans in a program costing taxpayers about $70 billion annually.