UPDATE: Gov. Paul LePage: Maine will ban buying junk food with food stamps

AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has written to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to say that if the USDA won’t allow Maine to restrict food stamps from being used to purchase sugary foods and drinks, he’ll do it anyway or withdraw from the food stamp program altogether.

LePage spokeswoman Adrienne Bennett discussed the letter today during a radio appearance on WVOM. LePage’s office had not responded to a request for a copy of the June 17 letter from LePage by the time of this writing.

“It’s time for the federal government to wake up and smell the energy drinks,” wrote LePage, according to a reading of the letter on the radio. “Doubtful that it will, I will be pursuing options to implement reforms unilaterally or cease Maine’s administration of the food stamp program altogether.”

According to Bennett, the state asked the federal government for a waiver so it could create a pilot program that wouldn’t allow food stamps, which are paid for by the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, to be used for the purchase of “junk food.” That waiver request was denied, she said.

“We have a responsibility; these are taxpayer dollars,” said Bennett. “We need to ensure that the most healthy foods are being purchased with food stamps.”

The LePage administration requested permission to ban junk food purchases with food stamps in November 2015. That was after the Maine Legislature rejected LePage proposals to take that step in 2013 and 2015. Approximately 200,000 Mainers receive food stamps, down from a high of more than 250,000 in 2012.

Bennett argued that the federal government sends mixed messages when it comes to nutrition and the use of food stamps. On one hand, the Obama administration has long called for healthier public school menus and the USDA has offered grants aimed at improving the purchase of fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, federal rules don’t allow states to restrict what is purchased with food stamps.

Bennett acknowledged that LePage’s threat to end Maine’s administration of the program is an extreme position.

“The governor understands what he needs to do to get the federal government’s attention and he is drawing attention to this issue,” she said. “It’s important for the folks who are using the benefits to make good choices. … He’s asking for a compromise and we think it’s a reasonable compromise.”

To date, no state has been allowed to restrict the purchase of junk food with food stamps.