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Ohio Senate Tables Photo ID Requirement For Food Stamps

WCBE 90.5FM | By Ohio Public Radio

Published December 19, 2019 at 5:17 AM EST

The Ohio Senate has tabled until the new year a bill requiring food stamp cards to contain a photo ID.

Ohio Public Radio's Andy Chow reports.

Senate Republican Leadership said there were too many questions and concerns still lingering on the bill.

Advocates for the poor, including Lisa Hamler-Fugitt of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, said the photo requirement on cards would've created an expensive program for the state.

Hamler-Fugitt: "This bill is $15 million in taxpayer money that is chasing a problem that doesn't exist. And I think that in this holiday season, some reasonable minds, and heads, and hearts decided that this was not the right time."

Obhof noted the concern that of the 17 states that have tried to implement a similar requirement, 16 have abandoned the program.

He believes they can make changes and pass the bill next year.

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