CleverBomb
On Space Out
The House just released the Agriculture bill. Among the usual scaled-down echoes of "Catsup really is a vegetable" stuff, there's this little gem:
And in a surprising twist, the bill language specifies that only rural areas are to benefit in the future from funding requested by the administration this year to continue a modest summer demonstration program to help children from low-income households — both urban and rural — during those months when school meals are not available.
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.
So, apparently Republicans like the President's idea for school lunches over summer vacation -- just as long as those children don't get any.
At least last year's House attempt to zero out SNAP funding was impartial (callous and craven, true, but not targeted). This? This is the secret decoder ring. And the message isn't "Be sure to drink more Ovaltine". It's "when we say 'cut government waste' we really mean 'cut welfare for inner-city kids'"
And in a surprising twist, the bill language specifies that only rural areas are to benefit in the future from funding requested by the administration this year to continue a modest summer demonstration program to help children from low-income households — both urban and rural — during those months when school meals are not available.
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.
So, apparently Republicans like the President's idea for school lunches over summer vacation -- just as long as those children don't get any.
At least last year's House attempt to zero out SNAP funding was impartial (callous and craven, true, but not targeted). This? This is the secret decoder ring. And the message isn't "Be sure to drink more Ovaltine". It's "when we say 'cut government waste' we really mean 'cut welfare for inner-city kids'"
