EDITORIAL: Candy and soda isn't exactly government cheese

The government is at it again, passing a law about something it says is bad for us. 

While we caution against government overreach, in this case, it is right. 

With Gov. Brad Little’s signature on Tuesday, House Bill 109 bans candy and soda from the government’s food assistance program. 

It’s a bit silly that candy and soda could be acquired under a food assistance program. Why the government would want to make it convenient for young and old to have candy and soda is beyond any good reason. We know candy and soda are not good for us. We know these items are not good for our children. They are loaded with sugar, and sugar leads weight gain, cavities and myriad other health problems. There is no doubt that what we eat matters when it comes to our health. 

And let’s be even more clear: This country has a problem with kids eating too much candy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity among those in the U.S. between the ages of 2 and 19 is about 20%. That’s about 15 million kids and adolescents who are too heavy. That’s a lot and it doesn't just end when teens become adults. They don't just start making smarter choices. According to the CDC, about 40% of adults in this country are obese.

So rather than pushing candy and soda into their hands, government should be pushing people to get outside, go for walks or ride a bike. It should encourage people to eat vegetables and fruits. It should be hammering home the benefits of diet and exercise. But for the risk of offending anyone, it trends lightly on this subject as great cost.

Now, House Bill 109, which takes effect July 1, doesn’t force anyone to exercise or eat better. But it doesn’t make it easy for them to do the opposite. What it does is require a federal waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement the changes to Idaho’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program. Little has said his administration is committed to securing said waiver.

“I do recognize the complexities of defining candy and soda, but at the same time this issue is not complex at all. It is actually quite simple: assistance from the government should go toward healthy foods, not foods that cause so many health problems,” Little said. 

Well said.

We applaud HB 109’s co-sponsors, Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur d’Alene, and Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur d’Alene. They are correct in trying to make it so government doesn’t provide sugary food and drink to Idahoans through a state-funded assistance program. Given the choice, young and old will go with candy and soda because they taste good and are addictive. 

Most of us lack the discipline to make the best health choices, so we don’t need government to help us make the wrong ones.