Nothing says to the world “I’m a piece of shit” like thinking about taking food out of the mouths of children who don’t have food. Welcome to the Republican House of Representatives!
Legislation debated by the House Education and Workforce Committee on Wednesday aims to save money by scaling back the number of schools in which all students receive free or reduced meals.
A proposed Republican amendment to the bill would go even further, allowing a trial period of so-called block grants for school meals in three states. That would mean those states wouldn't receive unlimited federal dollars for students who qualify for the free and reduced-price lunches.
Republicans need to make those budget cuts! They need to cut taxes! They need to give everybody their own jacuzzi! They need to make sure your healthcare provider doesn’t steal your baby and turn him into a communist!
Republicans, including Rokita and committee chairman John Kline of Minnesota, said the changes would help save money while ensuring that those with the highest need are still guaranteed meals. The bill would raise the threshold for a government program called community eligibility, in which schools in districts with high poverty rates can provide free meals to all students at the school.
Republicans said it would better target taxpayer money by scaling back free meals for the some of the students that attend those high-poverty schools, but don't qualify for free or reduced meals. They noted that the bill also provides an increase in federal reimbursements for school breakfasts.
"This is hardly unreasonable and it's hardly unfair," said Rokita.
It’s exactly unreasonable and entirely unfair. Last I remember committee chairman John Kline of Minnesota voted for the economic bailout of financial institutions. None of them were going hungry, John. Representative Todd Rokita from Indiana really wants to take away school food from children. He even named a bill “Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act of 2016.” You know that’s some evil business. The numbers of kids losing their meals could reach over three million. You want less kids to need free meals? Figure out a way to create kids who aren’t struggling to get fed.
