Minnesota becomes fourth state to offer universal free school meals

[fredjr82]

How refreshing from this State.

Starting this fall, students at Minnesota schools will get free meals regardless of their ability to pay.

A bill signed into law Friday, March 17, by Gov. Tim Walz provides more than $800 million in funding for school lunches and breakfasts over the next four years. A free meals program was one of the top priorities this session for the governor and Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers, who say they want to craft a state budget that will prioritize education and families.

For the "children loving" Cons who "care" once their born?

Republican opponents of the bill raised concerns about the potential for waste and misappropriations. Others said the state would be better off spending money on improving reading and math scores. Sen. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, got national attention for remarking on the Senate floor that he had never met a hungry Minnesotan.

“I have yet to meet a person in Minnesota that is hungry,” he said. “I have yet to meet a person in Minnesota that says they don’t have access to enough food to eat.”

 Link

 

[DooBi]

No Brainer. Well done. Iowa should do this.

 

[DFSNOLE]

Good for Minnesota. Sen. Drazkowski needs to get out of his crystal palace every once in a while. Far too often, a school meal is the only one many children get.

 

[JRHawk2003]

Stop this communist crap. This is some excuse to give farmers more money.

 

[QChawks]

So long as they are providing healthy meals I’d a huge fan of this

 

[NorthernHawkeye]

It's not free.

But I have no issues with this. We've come along way from decades past where free meals were one color punch card, reduced meals were another color punch card and full price payer was another color punch card. It still amzes me that the grown ups in charge were ok with a system that openly identified kids of need in an environment already tough enough for the kids to begin with.

 

[hawkbirch]

It's not free.

But I have no issues with this. We've come along way from decades past where free meals were one color punch card, reduced meals were another color punch card and full price payer was another color punch card. It still amzes me that the grown ups in charge were ok with a system that openly identified kids of need in an environment already tough enough for the kids to begin with.

It would be pretty remarkable if we could apply that same logic to other problems and fix them too. What a world!!

 

[JRHawk2003]

Dems need to attack. Quit rewarding people that hate you. Rural people hate Dems. Don't vote for money for them.

 

[JRHawk2003]

Trailer Parks are the most reliable Trump supporters and Private Equity is squeezing the life out of them.

The irony is rich here.

 

[Bearhawk0505]

Seems like a far better use of money than private school welfare checks being issued to people.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

It's not free.

But I have no issues with this. We've come along way from decades past where free meals were one color punch card, reduced meals were another color punch card and full price payer was another color punch card. It still amzes me that the grown ups in charge were ok with a system that openly identified kids of need in an environment already tough enough for the kids to begin with.

Who are you, and what have you done with Northern?

Seems like a far better use of money than private school welfare checks being issued to people.

THIS!

 

[NorthernHawkeye]

It would be pretty remarkable if we could apply that same logic to other problems and fix them too. What a world!!

 

[InsaneHawkJJP]

It's not free.

But I have no issues with this. We've come along way from decades past where free meals were one color punch card, reduced meals were another color punch card and full price payer was another color punch card. It still amzes me that the grown ups in charge were ok with a system that openly identified kids of need in an environment already tough enough for the kids to begin with.

What color was your punch ticket?

 

[HawkeyeShawn]

Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong here, but would‘t this only help those who can afford to pay? The poor already receives free lunch, So now the middle class and wealthy don’t have to pay either. Raise the limit and allow more families closer to whatever economic line is already drawn. Allow those that have the means to pay, continue to pay, redirect those funds to the classrooms.

 

[Hawki97]

No Brainer. Well done. Iowa should do this.

We’ve got to get through the important work of bathrooms, pronouns, and guns in parking lots in Iowa before we could even think about something like this.

 

[TylerJ84]

I’m all in on this.

On a country, state, county, and town level we should be dumping as much money as possible into our schools/teachers/supplies/etc

 

[Moral]

Dems need to attack. Quit rewarding people that hate you. Rural people hate Dems. Don't vote for money for them.

 

[millah_22]

More than 34 million people, including 9 million children experience food insecurity in the United States.

This is a good move by Minnesota.

 

[General Tso]

How refreshing from this State.

Starting this fall, students at Minnesota schools will get free meals regardless of their ability to pay.

A bill signed into law Friday, March 17, by Gov. Tim Walz provides more than $800 million in funding for school lunches and breakfasts over the next four years. A free meals program was one of the top priorities this session for the governor and Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers, who say they want to craft a state budget that will prioritize education and families.

For the "children loving" Cons who "care" once their born?

Republican opponents of the bill raised concerns about the potential for waste and misappropriations. Others said the state would be better off spending money on improving reading and math scores. Sen. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, got national attention for remarking on the Senate floor that he had never met a hungry Minnesotan.

“I have yet to meet a person in Minnesota that is hungry,” he said. “I have yet to meet a person in Minnesota that says they don’t have access to enough food to eat.”

 Link

The repubs ain't wrong that trying to improve reading and math scores should be a focus. But if some of these these kids aren't coming to school with basic needs met, it's pointless. Bravo Minnesota.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong here, but would‘t this only help those who can afford to pay? The poor already receives free lunch, So now the middle class and wealthy don’t have to pay either. Raise the limit and allow more families closer to whatever economic line is already drawn. Allow those that have the means to pay, continue to pay, redirect those funds to the classrooms.

A similar ballot measure passed in my state. I voted against it for the reasons you mentioned. Seems to me the answer is to expand eligibility, not have taxpayers pick up the tab for students of families who can afford meals. Seems the same concept as the voucher programs, which I’m also against.

 

[cheeselog8]

Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong here, but would‘t this only help those who can afford to pay? The poor already receives free lunch, So now the middle class and wealthy don’t have to pay either. Raise the limit and allow more families closer to whatever economic line is already drawn. Allow those that have the means to pay, continue to pay, redirect those funds to the classrooms.

I think the issue is the income level where free lunch kicks in is absurdly low ($17k-ish annual income for one child). Plus this needed proven by completing an application annually by anyone looking for assistance. This takes out any guess work, processing and administration of these applications. Great job by Minnesota.

 

[TylerJ84]

My family was middle class growing up.

We always had a roof over our heads, but sometimes my mom didn’t have money for my lunches.

Nothing more embarrassing for a kid than that, I promise you.


Some kids only meals are school lunches.

 

[OutbackBowl2017]

Meals are free at all DM public schools. It’s been that way for a few years. They were giving away food during the pandemic as well by having people drive up to get breakfast and lunch. I feel bad for kids that don’t have parents that prioritize food for them in the form of breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

 

[TunzaHawk]

Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong here, but would‘t this only help those who can afford to pay? The poor already receives free lunch, So now the middle class and wealthy don’t have to pay either. Raise the limit and allow more families closer to whatever economic line is already drawn. Allow those that have the means to pay, continue to pay, redirect those funds to the classrooms.

Yes. But as far as handouts go this seems to be a beneficial one. Could justify it as part of public education expense and eliminate some issues of the kids knowing who is poor and who is not. As an Iowa resident and taxpayer I now get to subsidize private school tuition now which I find objectionable even though I have paid for and sent kids to private schools over the years.

 

[hawkbirch]

Meals are free at all DM public schools. It’s been that way for a few years. They were giving away food during the pandemic as well by having people drive up to get breakfast and lunch. I feel bad for kids that don’t have parents that prioritize food for them in the form of breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Who knew the solution to food insecurity was better priorities?

 

[blhawk]

Dems need to attack. Quit rewarding people that hate you. Rural people hate Dems. Don't vote for money for them.

I understand the sentiment but Republicans are the party of vindictive shit stains, let's not sink to their level

 

[JRHawk2003]

View embedded media

I'm all outta compassion...

 

[JRHawk2003]

I understand the sentiment but Republicans are the party of vindictive shit stains, let's not sink to their level

 

[Lindemann]

A similar ballot measure passed in my state. I voted against it for the reasons you mentioned. Seems to me the answer is to expand eligibility, not have taxpayers pick up the tab for students of families who can afford meals. Seems the same concept as the voucher programs, which I’m also against.

I'm thinking wealthier families ultimately pay for their kids meals by paying more income and property taxes than poorer people. The wealthier families also pick up the tab for the poor kid's meals.

Win/win.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

I'm thinking wealthier families ultimately pay for their kids meals by paying more income and property taxes than poorer people. The wealthier families also pick up the tab for the poor kid's meals.

Win/win.

Yeah, while I voted against it I’m not upset it passed. Was on the fence.
I’d vote against vouchers every time though. That one pisses me off.

 

[spiderland]

This is bulls!t. Those 6-year old kids need to learn their keep.

 

[JRHawk2003]

This is bulls!t. Those 6-year old kids need to learn their keep.

Yes! Pull themselves up by their bootstraps!

 

[Torg]

Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong here, but would‘t this only help those who can afford to pay? The poor already receives free lunch, So now the middle class and wealthy don’t have to pay either. Raise the limit and allow more families closer to whatever economic line is already drawn. Allow those that have the means to pay, continue to pay, redirect those funds to the classrooms.

I believe that it is being paid for by slightly raising taxes on the wealthy.

Now no kids will be stigmatized by proclaiming their poverty to get a free lunch.

 

[luvmyhawks]

Colorado passed this last year. As a father of 3, I’m happy as hell about it. It is one less thing to worry/think about during the weekly grind.

 

[mnole03]

Colorado passed this last year. As a father if 3, I’m happy as hell about it. It is 1 less thing to worry/think about during the weekly grind.

It’s also dramatically changed the acceptance rate of free meals for children from low income families.

We’ll certainly pay for it, but it’s money well spent.

 

[herkyhawk00]

My family was middle class growing up.

We always had a roof over our heads, but sometimes my mom didn’t have money for my lunches.

Nothing more embarrassing for a kid than that, I promise you.


Some kids only meals are school lunches.

Should have eaten PBJ’s every day like I did instead of buying a lunch.

 

[ihawk in FWB]

Who are you, and what have you done with Northern?

THIS!

Northern is a socialist and just doesn't know it.

 

[JWolf74]

This is a good move. Government spends money on a lot of things it shouldn't. But feeding hungry kids will always be a good use of funds.

 

[Tom Paris]

So long as they are providing healthy meals I’d a huge fan of this

Easier said than done. Kids just trash a lot of the vegetables and fruits. Parents don’t teach kids how to eat like they used to. The packed lunches are often filled with junk. Empty calories.

 

[spiderland]

What color was your punch ticket?

Not sure, but is it safe to assume his wife’s punch ticket color is black and blue?