GOP lawmaker says no spending on ads targeting sodas, fast food

ShareThis

WASHINGTON - Rep. Scott DesJarlais says what you eat or drink is a personal decision that should be left up to you and possibly your doctor -- but not the federal government.

The Tennesssee Republican, who is one of a handful of physicians in Congress, filed legislation on Tuesday to stop what he calls "taxpayer-funded attack ads" against soft drinks and other food and beverage products.

The legislation was prompted by reports that $230 million in federal economic-stimulus funds have been used to pay for anti-obesity efforts that in many cases have targeted the soft drink and fast-food industries. Industry groups have complained that some of the ads are unfair and misleading.

"As a physician, I believe in promoting and encouraging healthy lifestyles, but the American taxpayer should not be forced to subsidize campaigns that push misleading information intended to scare consumers," DesJarlais said.

DesJarlais' legislation is called the "Protecting Food and Beverages from Government Attack Act of 2012." If approved, it would ban the use of federal money for advertising campaigns against any food or beverage deemed safe and lawfully marketed under the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

Other lawmakers have questioned whether the stimulus funds, approved three years ago to jump-start the weak economy, should be used for programs that promote healthy lifestyles instead of creating jobs.

Much of their ire has been directed at the New York City Department of Health, which received $15.5 million in stimulus funding for its anti-obesity efforts.

The city's campaign has included a series of videos, ads and billboards featuring graphic images to drive home the point that poor diets can lead to health problems. One of the videos shows a man drinking what appears to be a glass of fat to draw a parallel between sugary drinks and diabetes. Another ad features images of an amputee sitting near cups of soda.

"We don't have a problem with health departments promoting exercise, and we don't have a problem with them promoting what the health department considers to be healthy choices," said Raymond Thomasson, president of the Beverage Association of Tennessee, a trade group that represents 17 bottlers and distributors across the state.

But, Thomasson said, "I don't think to educate people on healthy choices you have to assault and attack other products that someone may think is unhealthy."

Thomasson said his association brought its concerns to DesJarlais because, as a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, he already had an interest in the inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars. DesJarlais agreed to sponsor the legislation, and Thomasson said his group has offered to make its members available to testify in support of the bill.

"Tax money that was earmarked to help create and keep jobs shouldn't be used in an abusive manner against an industry that pays corporate taxes," Thomasson said.

(Contact Michael Collins at collinsm(at)shns.com.)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)