McSCUSE You? Ernst Exposes Blue States Wasting $500 Million of SNAP Funds on Fast Food

GET TICKETS!

***The Iowa Standard is an independent media voice. We rely on the financial support of our readers to exist. Please consider a one-time sign of support or becoming a monthly supporter at $5, $10/month - whatever you think we're worth! If you’ve ever used the phrase “Fake News” — now YOU can actually DO something about it! You can also support us on PayPal at [email protected] or Venmo at Iowa-Standard-2018 or through the mail at: PO Box 112 Sioux Center, IA 51250

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.

To stop this abuse and restore the SNAP program to its original mission of providing nutrition to food-insecure Americans, Ernst is introducing the McStopping Chains from Using SNAP EBT to Make Entrees (McSCUSE ME) Act.

“The ‘N’ in SNAP stands for nutrition – not nuggets with a side of fries,” said 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.”

State-by-state spending breakdown of SNAP dollars being redeemed, primarily at fast food restaurants, from June 2023 to May 2025:

Oregon is also currently in the process of launching a program.

Click here to view the bill.