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Mo. bill would allow drug felons to get food stamps

Missouri is one of nine states where felony drug convicts are ineligible for food stamps.
(via Flickr/clementine gallot)
Missouri is one of nine states where felony drug convicts are ineligible for food stamps.

Supporters say a bill that would allow convicted drug felons to be eligible for foods stamps is gaining momentum among Missouri lawmakers. The bill would repeal the state's lifetime ban on food stamps for drug felons.

Three Republicans and one Democrat in the House are sponsoring the bill, according to The Kansas City Star. The sponsors say it isn't fair that child molesters and murderers are eligible for food stamps, but people with felony drug convictions aren't.

Missouri is one of nine states where a felony drug conviction means a lifetime ban from food stamps. Supporters of keeping the ban say it prevents drug users from using federal food stamp dollars to feed their habits.

The bill made it out of a House committee last year, but it never made it to the full House for debate.