Rep. Adam Neylon Works to Reform State Government

During my campaign for the 98th Assembly District I met with thousands of voters and listened to their concerns. Many people were eager to share their ideas, stories and issues they had with state government. One story a Waukesha voter told me really stuck with me, about a young man approaching him in a grocery store parking lot, attempting to sell $100 worth of food stamps for $50 cash. 

In Wisconsin, over 850,000 low-income residents are provided taxpayer money to buy food, which is about 15% of our population. It is part of a federal program known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in Wisconsin as FoodShare, or more commonly referred to as “food stamps”. 

The FoodShare program has been under the microscope lately, due to mounting cases of fraud and abuse. Thousands of dollars have been stolen through the sale of cards to ineligible recipients. There have even been cases in Racine County where people sold their own cards then reported them lost. We’ve received hundreds of complaints from concerned citizens reporting food stamps have been used to purchase large volumes of chips, soda and other junk food.  At a time when many taxpayers are struggling to make ends meet, with health care costs set to skyrocket under Obamacare, and a nation that’s struggling with an obesity problem, it’s time we rethink and reform this program. 

In my first three weeks as in the Assembly, I’ve cast two votes to reform the FoodShare program. The first was Assembly Bill (AB) 82 to criminalize the trafficking of FoodShare benefits. This will make it illegal for that young man in Waukesha to sell or trade his benefits. 

I also voted for AB 110, in the State Affairs Committee, to limit the amount of junk food that recipients can purchase through FoodShare. This bill mandates that 2/3 of the food purchased using FoodShare benefits must have nutritional value, or be considered “staple” products like milk, bread, eggs, etc. 

President Abraham Lincoln once stated, “It is the duty of every government to give protection to its citizens, of whatever class, color, or condition,” and I agree. I believe in providing a safety net for the less fortunate and responsible assistance programs. No one in Wisconsin should ever go hungry. I believe the FoodShare program is essential. Especially since the majority of beneficiaries are children. But like most government programs, it needs to be reformed. 

These two bills will promote healthy living and limit fraud and abuse, while still providing assistance to those who really need it. Sure, a lot of special interest groups won't like these reforms. We’ve already seen major push back from the lobbyists. But I don't work for any of them. I work for you.

State Representative Adam Neylon, 98th Assembly District