Does the House GOP think urban kids are the wrong color? (removing urban kids from lunch program)

[CreekDog]

TPM EDITOR'S BLOG

WTF?

JOSH MARSHALL – MAY 20, 2014, 11:35 PM EDT
I'm not sure why this isn't a bigger deal. I hadn't heard about it other than in this brief passage tucked away in a Politico article about the House GOP agriculture bill. But it takes a small program intended provide meals to children in the school lunch program during the summer months and says it can now only be used to benefit kids in "rural areas".

In other words, "urban" kids are now out of luck.

Since 2010, the program has operated from an initial appropriation of $85 million, and the goal has been to test alternative approaches to distribute aid when schools are not in session. The White House asked for an additional $30 million to continue the effort, but the House bill provides $27 million for what’s described as an entirely new pilot program focused on rural areas only.

Democrats were surprised to see urban children were excluded. And the GOP had some trouble explaining the history itself. But a spokeswoman confirmed that the intent of the bill is a pilot project in “rural areas” only.


http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/wtf--15

[Half-Century Man]

1. I find myself really wanting to hear an explaination.

On TV during prime time all channels.

[winter is coming]

4. +1000. There are kids who really rely on that summer help, and many of them are urban. n/t

[William769]

2. WTF?

[Cali_Democrat]

3. WOW!!! The word "evil" doesn't even begin to describe this. nt

[Brigid]

5. This screwed-up country . . .

Can't even feed its children anymore!!

[atreides1]

6. Not "can't"

Won't feed anyone who is hungry...not just children!

[wandy]

11. +1

[alittlelark]

7. OMFG.... how blatant can they be and get away w/it?

WTF !?!?

[Shankapotomus]

8. Trying to punish urban voters

for voting the wrong way.

[merrily]

9. The House can't pass anything without the Senate.

What they are trying to do is shore up their base for November.

[jmowreader]

10. Exactly right

Rural voters are, by and large, Republican. Since Democratic voters' kids are leeches on society and Republican voters' leeches on society are All American Children Whose Parents Are Having A Little Trouble Making Ends Meet, guess where the aid goes?

[IronLionZion]

12. There are plenty of brown and black children in rural areas

of the south and southwest. Aren't they concerned that a latino kid in Texas or a black kid in Alabama might get some food they don't deserve? Maybe they should limit it further to just the rural areas of the upper midwest and mountain west, but avoid Minnesota and Colorado for being too liberal?

[ismnotwasm]

13. Saw that

The picture is heartbreaking