We have a 16:8 red senate, but after yesterday’s session, the casual or first-time observer might never guess that! Not only was Victoria Sullivan’s SNAP reform bill transformed into a study committee like murder that doesn’t involve violence, but the whole body approved a Dem bill to make more students eligible for the school lunch program! Team Red is ENABLING the Bernie disciples in supporting their “Free Stuff” programs.
When you read the bottom of the graphic, it says, “After passage, the bill was subsequently tabled: appropriations in a non-budget year are typically tabled to be revisited later depending on available funds.”
I have a better idea, assuming those funds are available at that time. Instead of picking up the chow tab for more students whose parents don’t want to pay, why not invest in helping people help themselves (and their kids)? Use those funds to offer a seminar on making the most of a grocery budget by way of thoughtful shopping and menu planning. It can be in person, a podcast, or a studio show that takes questions from viewers. A panel of subject-matter experts could be assembled for each module. Bring in Mrs. Shannon Valera, a dietitian, to discuss the needs of all students, including those with diabetes or allergies. Bring in respected managers of cafeterias, restaurants, and small cafes to discuss expiration dates, shelf life of perishables, and proper rotation to minimize food waste. Bring in people who promote cooking-in over ordering/eating out, like Rep Liz Barbour. They can give viewers pro tips on how to be creative in the kitchen. Bring in people well-versed in reading supermarket circulars for what’s on sale. Even ordinary uncredentialed people like me know what Market Basket puts on sale regularly and how often those items are on sale. For example, I just bought about 3 months’ worth of my usual go-to coffee instead of a week’s worth because it was $3.99/bag, down from the usual $4.59. It’s grade school math. As a kid, I tagged along with my mom as she preached the importance of paying attention to the unit price and limiting purchases to what’s on the list (minimizing impulse buying). It’s not rocket science; it’s personal responsibility. So again, why not invest in cultivating good life skills for the whole family rather than just another free lunch at everyone else’s expense?
