The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is getting renewed scrutiny after Democrats tried to use the program as a cudgel to beat down Republicans during the government shutdown.

Some Republicans are calling for new restrictions on SNAP to decrease program spending and cut down on waste, fraud, and abuse.

'I hate to be the one to say McSCUSE ME , but something needs to be done because taxpayers are not lovin' it.'

According to Republican U.S. Senator Joni Ernst from Iowa, $524 million was spent "almost exclusively on fast food, in nine states" over two years. The figure comes from spending through the Restaurant Meals Program option that allows select SNAP beneficiaries to use their funds on participating restaurants, including fast food shops.

"The 'N' in SNAP stands for nutr

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