LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two controversial measures have passed the Kentucky House, and are headed to the Senate for consideration.
In back-to-back votes on Friday, Republican-backed measures to relax child labor laws and tighten food stamp eligibility won passage.
The food stamp bill would insert income and asset tests for Kentuckians applying for SNAP benefits.
They would also impose work requirements for able-bodied adults with no dependents.
Opponents warned thousands of low-income Kentuckians would lose food assistance under the stricter standards, putting them at greater risk of struggling to get enough to eat.
Republican Rep. Wade Williams, District 4, said his bill would close loopholes that he portrayed as deterrents to getting more people into jobs.
"The pandemic is behind us, and it's time for a thoughtful solution on how we get more workers back in the workforce," he said. "It's not compassionate to simply keep somebody as a servant to the government."
However, Democratic Rep. Sarah Stalker, District 34, wants to know "how poor do you have to be in Kentucky to be worthy of food?"
"That is the question of the day. We're talked about a basic need and a right, and I just, I don't even know where we go from here."
SNAP helps low-income families supplement their budgets so they can buy groceries.
Meanwhile, the labor law would remove the cap on the number of hours older teenagers can work on school nights.
The bill would also bar Kentucky's labor officials from setting child labor standards that exceed the federal protections.
The bill's lead sponsor touts the life lessons teenagers can learn from holding down a job, while opponents warn their education would suffer if they take on longer work weeks.
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