Millions of American children are going without extra food this summer, after 13 states declined to participate in a federal program that helps families in need buy groceries.

Thirty-seven states, four U.S. territories and five Native American tribes are benefitting from the program, according to the Department of Agriculture. Qualifying families with children who rely on school meals to get enough to eat are getting an extra $120 per child this summer to help feed their kids.

The states that declined to participate in the program cited reasons such as problems with aging state computer systems, philosophical opposition to welfare programs, and a belief that existing free meal programs are sufficient. All 13 are led by Republican governors.

An estimated 2 million Florida children could have benefited from more than $258 million in aid this summer if state officials hadn’t turned it down. Nationwide, roughly 21 million kids are being fed by the program this year.

  • Nougat@fedia.io
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    4 months ago

    … philosophical opposition to welfare programs, …

    I have a philosophical opposition to assholes in government.

  • solsangraal@lemmy.zip
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    4 months ago

    GOP: “maybe they shouldn’t have had kids!!”

    also GOP: “why is no one having kids!!!”

  • Beaver@lemmy.ca
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    4 months ago

    Same thing they did with school lunches. Stop voting republican people.

  • WhollyGuacamole@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    These states that declined the aid most likely want low-income people to have no choice but to rely on local churches for any help.

    • dexa_scantron@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      They want them to be so desperate to keep their 3 shitty minimum-wage jobs that they won’t complain about mistreatment. It’s slavery with extra steps.

    • samus12345@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      And it works like a charm. Intentionally make things shittier, tell gullible voters it’s the Demmycrats’ fault, get re-elected. Rinse and repeat.

  • Optional@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    It’s true, and we’ll throw it on the pile but know this: republiQan voters - including the ones affected by this - do not care. They are in a cult.

    It’s a cult with guns and Jesus and the flag and there’s a lot of praying and pledging and all the attendant symbolism of duty and honor without either of those things. These motherfuckers are in there deep and the only way out is for them to acknowledge that.

    So when we see the corporate news doing absolutely sweet fuck all to help them do that - well, you know what we’re gonna get.

  • Media Bias Fact Checker@lemmy.worldB
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    4 months ago
    Associated Press Media Bias Fact Check Credibility: [High] (Click to view Full Report)

    Name: Associated Press Bias: Left-Center
    Factual Reporting: High
    Country: United States of America
    Full Report: https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/associated-press/

    Check the bias and credibility of this article on Ground.News


    Thanks to Media Bias Fact Check for their access to the API.
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