Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced the McSCUSE ME Act to ban SNAP (food stamp) benefits from being used at fast-food restaurants. The change was explicitly targeted at the USDA’s Restaurant Meals Program. In a viral Fox Business clip, she quipped, “The ‘N’ in SNAP stands for nutrition — not nuggets with a side of fries,” revealing that $524 million was spent on fast food in nine states after Biden expanded the program.
Additionally, Ernst argued that taxpayer dollars should fund nutrient-rich foods rather than drive-thru meals. Conservative viewers overwhelmingly cheered on the plan in a series of social media comments. The bill aims to end what Ernst calls a “serious waste of tax dollars.”
Posting a clip of the interaction and major announcement to social media, one viral post on X (formerly Twitter) noted, “BREAKING: Sen. Joni Ernst has introduced legislation to completely ban the use of SNAP on fast food. Can’t believe this actually has to be done.”
In the clip, the Senator introduced her brave new plan to Fox Business host Stuart Varney. “Stuart, I have an act. It’s called the McSCUSE ME Act, which would disallow those SNAP benefits being used at fast food restaurants. Again, we want to make sure that those hungry families, those food-insecure families, actually are receiving benefits, but we want them to really use those dollars on nutrient-rich foods, and you’re not going to find those at fast food restaurants.”
In a more detailed statement, she issued an official document outlining the plan. “The ‘N’ in SNAP stands for nutrition – not nuggets with a side of fries,” joked Ernst. “I wish I was McRibbing you, but $250 million per year at the drive through is no joke and a serious waste of tax dollars. I hate to be the one to say McSCUSE ME, but something needs to be done because taxpayers are not lovin’ it.”
The same document noted, “After the Biden administration massively expanded the number of restaurants eligible to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is releasing bombshell data exposing that $524 million has been spent, almost exclusively on fast food, in nine states over the past two years.”
Watch the intense interview here:
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In the comments under the clip, users supported Ernst’s Act. “Good. Fast food is expensive and unhealthy. The obesity rate amongst SNAP recipients is already higher than the rest of the population, which includes their children, too,” one woman said.
Annoyed by the waste of the EBT program as a whole, particularly given the new (to many) realization that it allows recipients to buy food stamps, a comment read, “Its insane that you can use them at Fast Food Restaurants…this explains the obesity problem…maybe we should go back to handing out just Government Cheese.”
Suggesting an alternative, a conservative said, “I saw one guy suggest no SNAP at all. Give them MRE’s. As someone who grew up on MRE’s, I find this completely acceptable. If MRE’s are good enough for our military, then….”
Featured image from embedded video