ROCK HILL, S.C. — When South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced changes to SNAP rules weeks ago, it looked like he was going to sign the executive order right away.
Shelves filled with sweet treats and drinks might soon be off limits to SNAP recipients.
Kahlid Shaidi, the owner of Quick Stop convivence store in Rock Hill, said the proposed changes would deal a painful blow to his business.
“It’s most definitely going to affect us as small business,” said Shaidi. “Mostly what we sell is drinks, snacks, chips.”
Gov. McMaster said he’s not in a rush to implement any changes.
“We are working on it,” said the governor this week. “We want to do it right. We want to use common sense.”
McMaster also acknowledged that these changes are going to be a juggling act. He said he realizes that they must do something, but doesn’t want to upset businesses.
Stephen McDaniel, a bartender, has used SNAP benefits and doesn’t think the governor should make any changes.
“Sometimes the money is not always there when you need it to be, so having those benefits have been helpful,” said McDaniel. “Restricting it even more so just makes it harder on people and that’s not fair.”
Amiya Fletcher, a customer at Shaidi’s store, thinks people do need to eat healthier, but is not sure this is the right approach for those with low incomes.
“If you want us to eat healthier, put better items into the world that we can consume,” Fletcher said.
In a statement he put out this week, Gov. McMaster acknowledged that some people are angry about the proposed changes, but did not give any kind of timeline to implement it.
VIDEO: NC residents rally against cuts to SNAP and Medicaid benefits
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