Arizona Republicans want ID requirements for food stamps

The GOP in Arizona has proposed new ID requirements for food stamp participants to supposedly decrease fraudulent problems within the system.

According to FOX News and the Associated Press, Rep. Matt Salmon said, "With over $750 million in SNAP card and food trafficking fraud each year, it is time Congress take action to address the rampant waste in this program."

The requisite would require food stamp users to show a photo ID with every purchase, instead of only showing it when purchasing the actual food stamp card. The goal of the proposal is to reduce fraud activity, but other thinkers find other negative implications of the requirement.

President and CEO of the Arizona Association of Food Banks Angie Rodgers said, fraud “is less than two percent” and “Individuals have to have some place to go. Half of recipients are children,” Phoenix Business Journal reports.

The requirement is still in the proposal state, but there have been prior efforts to put the idea into law.