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Your Capitol Voice: 82nd Indivisible trying to divide; SNAP dropping unhealthy foods
by Bobby Kaufmann, State Representative · Op-Ed · March 12, 2025
We have had almost 15 Listening Posts in towns across the District with more to come.
The idea behind these meetings is for your legislators to come to your community and meet with residents. The local constituents have enjoyed us in their “backyards.”
This year I have had more complaints than all of my previous years combined. A small group of people, part of my previous political opponent’s campaign, have been attending these Listening Posts every single week.
They often disrupt the question-and-answers, argue incessantly, and try to take so much of the time that often the actual residents do not have enough time for their questions and comments.
Fellow legislators have told me this is happening all over the state since the last election. Ultimately individuals distort what is said in their so-called “82nd Indivisible” columns and political letters to the editor.
I apologize to all the residents who have reached out to complain. I have tried to keep order. I will NOT stop hosting these opportunities in your community.
The election is over …it is time to work together. The overwhelming majority of bills we are working on in my committee have been bipartisan!
This week a bill advanced out of committee that would require healthier foods for Iowa using the SNAP food program.
The legislation would require the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to seek federal approval to modify the list of foods eligible to be purchased using SNAP dollars.
Under the proposal, SNAP dollars would only be used on “healthy food” based on necessary nutrition for good health.
Items would include but are not limited to healthy grains, dairy, meat, eggs, peanut butter and nuts, pasta, rice, fruits, and vegetables.
The point of this bill is to emphasize nutrition in a program that is funded by taxpayers to help low-income families.
It is also helpful to Iowa farmers who grow many of these foods. Local foods growers can provide these healthy options. (Currently SNAP limits recipients from hot foods intended for immediate consumption as well as alcohol.)
The changes in this bill try to ensure that taxpayer dollars do not fund poor health outcomes as we try to alleviate hunger.
According to a 2016 USDA study of foods that were purchased using this program, 20 cents of every dollar was spent on sweetened beverages, desserts, salty snacks, candy, and sugar.
Specifically, sweetened beverages made up the second-most purchases category.
If this waiver is granted by the federal government the bill appropriates an additional $1 million for the Double Up Food Bucks Program.
This program is a healthy food incentive that doubles the purchasing power for fresh fruits and vegetables.
Another bill I support came out of the HHS committee this week. It adds work requirements as a condition of eligibility for Medicaid expansion for able-bodied Iowans.
The bill specifies that a minimum of 80 hours of work each month are needed to maintain membership in the program.
The work requirement has many exceptions such as under 19 years and over 64 years old, disabled individuals, medically exempt individuals, caretakers of dependent children, pregnancy, etc. plus many more.
According to the Department of Health had Human Services, over 100,000 Iowans on Medicaid who could work are not.
This is not acceptable and if you are an able-bodied Iowan receiving taxpayer dollars you need to be working.
Listening Post schedule for March 15: 9 a.m. at the West Liberty WeLead Office; 11 a.m. at the Mechanicsville Public Library.
You may contact Rep. Kaufmann at Bobby.Kaufmann@legis.iowa.gov, 563-260-3355 or 1527 330th St. Wilton, IA, 52778
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