Politics

FLOTUS’ $4.5 Billion School Lunch Bill Could Get Lame Duck Passage

WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady Michelle Obama’s campaign for healthier school lunches could be revived in Congress after two key Democrats said they will drop opposition to using funding from food stamps to pay for it.

Reps. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Jim McGovern of Massachusetts have said they will support House passage of a $4.5 billion child nutrition bill that passed the Senate earlier this year. Backed by some anti-hunger groups, the two lawmakers led opposition to passage of that version before the election because it is partially paid for with $2.2 billion taken from future funding for food stamp programs.

Since then, a push from the White House, which promised to find other legislation to trim costs, and political reality after the midterm elections — the bill would probably not fare as well when Republicans take over the House in January — appear to have softened opposition.

DeLauro said Tuesday that she is willing to support the legislation, which would improve lunches in schools and expand feeding programs for low-income students, with the food stamp cuts because Democrats will have a better opportunity when Congress returns to use another piece of legislation to try to restore the money and increase access to feeding programs for hungry kids.

“The view was that before the election, we couldn’t get (those) two pieces we wanted to get,” she said.

A spokesman for McGovern, Michael Mershon, said he was willing to support the bill because he had gotten “sufficient assurance” from the White House that it will work to restore the food stamp cuts.

Rep. George Miller of California, the Democratic chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, said he hopes to see the legislation passed in the coming weeks but added that the Obama administration must keep its promise to restore the funding.

“The White House must also deliver on its promise of additional commitments to prevent cuts to the food stamps programs in this tough economy,” Miller said in a statement.

If House Democrats are able to pass the Senate version of the bill, it would go straight to President Barack Obama for his signature. It could be a small victory for the party after widespread defeat in last week’s elections.

It is unclear how long the lame-duck legislative session to end the two-year Congress will last when lawmakers return to the Capitol next week. If Democrats are not able to move the bill to the president’s desk, supporters will have to start over in the new Congress. Though some Republicans support the bill, many have objected to its cost.

The first lady has lobbied aggressively for new school lunch standards as part of her “Let’s Move” campaign to combat childhood obesity. The standards, which would be decided by the Agriculture Department, would not remove popular foods like hamburgers from schools but would make them healthier, using leaner meat or whole wheat buns, for example. Vending machines could be stocked with less candy and fewer high-calorie drinks.

Creation of new standards, which public health advocates have sought for years, has unprecedented support from many of the nation’s largest food and beverage companies. The two sides came together on the issue as public pressure to remove junk foods from schools increased.

“I think it seems like now the bill is ready to pass,” said Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, who has been working on the issue for a decade. “If the House fails to pass child nutrition, it would derail 10 years of work to finally get sugary drinks and junk foods out of school vending machines.”

Some hunger groups have signed on to passage of the Senate version despite the cuts.

Billy Shore, founder and executive director of the hunger group Share Our Strength, said the chances of the bill‘s passage with DeLauro and McGovern’s support are “much, much better now.”

“Now that we are at the end game … we think it’s time to get behind this bill,” he said.

Monica Mills, of anti-hunger group Bread for the World, said her group has also signed on because “all in all, it’s a step forward.”

Comments (48)

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  • justice
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 3:24pm

    parents pack your kids lunches and do not give the schools money for cafeteria, that will show them. by the way isn’t obama and viden always shown at burger joints when they are out together. don’t figure. whats their kids have for lunch and supper. youngest one looks a bit chunky.

    Report Post »  
  • YesNdeedie
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 11:57am

    Then can and will the new house defund it?

    Report Post »  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 11:56am

    MO is as power-mad as obama is. she wants things HER way and is going to force us to pay for HER wants. she is nothing but a wannabe dictator’s spoiled wife.

    and since when did she stop slopping huge ice cream cones across her face. every photo op photo of the entire obama family has THEM enjoying huge candy-laden treats when us normal AMERICANS have families on food stamps [NO ice cream there, folks] and struggling thru unemployment.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
  • NHABE64
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:42am

    At some points America must stop giving too much FREE. I grew up in a world that you had to work for or you did not eat or have the proverbial pot to piss in. This so called social justice is a bunch of crap, when you just keep giving things away free only two things happen, you take away people’s pride to work for a living and you will also go broke. Stop the damn free and get people off their parastic backsides and back to work, if they have to go into the fields then so be it. We don’t need illegal aliens to do work Americans can do. Stop the damn free before we all go broke.

    Report Post »  
  • mankind7375
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:15am

    Go figure, more politicians showing us why we should not trust them. They say one thing to protect them from being voted out like the two mentioned in this article. When they keep their seats they flip so that they can vote along the party line and hope we forget about it before the next election.

    Report Post »  
  • Ohiowoman
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:58am

    My parents couldn’t afford to give us money to buy lunch at school, so we brown bagged it. The did it with their own money, not welfare. I remember some of those hot lunches served in the school cafeteria and was very glad to have the lunch I brought from home. Most of the kids who had the money to buy lunch walked right past what was being served and headed for the soft pretzles, chips and ice cream. What’s that old saying…you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink?

    Report Post »  
    • countryboy42
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:22am

      I think you ment, “You can lead a human to knowledge, but you can’t make them think.”

      Report Post »  
  • Ronko
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:52am

    What a waste of money its called exercise. If people would exercise then we wouldn’t have so many people overweight in this country. The Govt needs to stop being a nanny state and start acting like the people who crushed Germany in WWII.

    Report Post »  
  • Love Bandit Bestid
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:27am

    We’ve seen this before.
    Theft, squandering, and eventually most of the money is used by the democrat party.

    Report Post » Iman Barak Hussein  
  • Derek01
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:23am

    Am I missing something? Liberals give assistance to irresponsible people supposedly to take care their kids. Being irresponsible they don’t take care of their kids, DUH, so now liberals have to give them breakfast and lunch. That stuff should be done privately. Let George Soros and all the stupid liberals fund their own ideas. If we keep them busy doing their stupid ideas maybe they will learn what really works and what doesn’t in the real world. Anyway, who cares, it would be THEIR money.

    Report Post »  
  • lite530
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:23am

    Thats just great! Take a long hard look at Michelle Obama and you know right away she knows how to deal with obesity.

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  • jbh
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:15am

    My sons always went to school with a brown bag and a great lunch. What did happen with parents packing their childrens lunch???????? On the daily menu it did change from day to day.

    Hot thermos with soup,hot dogs,or pasta
    Cold items celery,carrots or small salad
    Bread, crackers,cheese wedges
    Milk or juice
    pudding,cookie,tasting cake’s

    How hard is this to do??????????

    Report Post »  
    • EqualJustice
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:27am

      We couldn’t afford to buy the lunch. We always took the brown bag lunch. I guess today my 6 siblings and I would get everything for free. I wonder if we would have had the incentive to go out and become so successful if we had had everything given to us for free?

      Report Post » EqualJustice  
  • spendthrift
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:11am

    So what now is a “Free Lunch”?

    Report Post » spendthrift  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:10am

    STUPID is as STUPID does. More parental rights taken away from parents.. I WANT MY HAPPY MEAL TOY, dam it. (without being forced to buy carrots I won’t eat!) BTW the professor who ate a TWINKIE a day and anything else he wanted, lost weight and had a great check up! Go figure. :) There goes another global warming type theory out the window for liberalsl. hahahhhahaa
    http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20022205-10391704.html

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
  • love the kids
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:03am

    I wonder why this administration does not go after smoking? Don‘t tell me it is because of Barack’s smoking, because if you look at Michelle’s hips and butt, the last thing she should be going after is food.

    Report Post »  
  • wingedwolf
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:52am

    Just another of the many things we will have to undo once we have finished exterminating the White House.

    Report Post » wingedwolf  
  • Jethro212
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:50am

    Let me get this straight, people on welfare get cash as per number of children to receive funds as such needed to feed them. The history of the Hot Lunch Program is from FDR, since then, we have what I just talked about, welfare, that the Family receives to feed their children. So, the parents are not spending the welfare money on lunches, oh I know, its hard getting up when you don’t work and pack a lunch for your kids, err wait…

    Stop paying this, if I did not feed my children, the State would take my kids, as they should, so stop this hot lunch BS, tell parents to man up and pack a lunch. Stop paying for things two, three, four, five times.

    They will keep this nonsense going till we are buying cars and paying for pools in poor neighborhoods. You have consequences in life, yes you do, you dropped out of school? Guess what? That was a life choice, deal with it. My grandfather dropped out after 6th Grade back in like 1920 or something, guess what he did then? He worked. My parents are now retired teachers, my dad always says something, “people who did not do their book report in 7th grade are now holding their hand out.” I agree with this view. However, I am beginning to ask a simple question, why am I bothering? My wife is a Pharmacist, and we pay out the nose for taxes, our health care, our retirement, seems if we sit on our ass someone is going to feed us, house us, feed our kids, get us power, get us phone, even reduced rate cable tv! Unemployment and being on welfare now, is much like my Grandparents retirement back in the 60s……

    Fed up, and I mean F E D up with this crap.

    Report Post »  
  • dmforman
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:33am

    Free lunches and school lunches in general are a joke. Having worked as a teacher and seeing lunch workers fill the backs of their cars with food bought for the school in Chicago, and seeing kids whose parents drive BMW, Mercedes, and principals and teachers telling parents what to put on their free and reduced lunch forms in the Atlanta area, has shown me this entire program is a sham. No one checks to know what is really happening. This is will be more waste of the money that my family works so hard to earn.

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    • HillBillySam1
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:27am

      There is very little, and sometimes misguided, accountability with free or reduced-priced lunches in our school systems. I have seen cafeteria workers turn away children who ask for a little extra on their plates, and while I agree that the food should not be given away carelessly, the food is simply thrown into the trash or taken home by the workers after the children go back to class. Sadly for many children, this is the only real opportunity to eat anything of value. I live in a very rural county in Kentucky and my church, along with some other community churches, take sack lunches to children when they are out of school for Fall, Christmas, Spring, and Summer break because they are hungry and they don’t have access to school breakfasts or lunches. The parents are on welfare and food stamps for the most part, but when you see the conditions that these children live in and see how they often times will immediately sit down and eat their sandwiches, bypassing the treats in the bag, it will literally break your heart. As a Conservative, I want my tax dollars spent wisely and effectively…..but I have no problem with children being fed and nourished with any of our taxpayer money.

      Report Post »  
    • nordspan
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 1:38pm

      I too have agree that it breaks one’s heart to see a child go hungry. I believe that taking money from the food stamp program was a good move – BECAUSE – it used the money that was previously allotted for lower income families to be used for their kids school lunches.

      Working and living in the inner city, I’ve also seen the blatant theft of food, the waste of the left overs, but I also have been inside the homes of those on welfare programs that miss-use their funds intentionally just to re-sell the products for their personal entertainment use; Wii and video games are the typical purchases, along with big flat screens and cellphones.

      One program our inner city has started is during the holidays and weekends, the city center has a lunch program for anyone to use for $1.00 (or kids get vouchers.) They are fed – it’s next door to the playground, and they don’t feel singled out. The place is beautiful, clean, we use it for the voting in the community, the retired people go there for bingo nights – it’s a tought. Feed the kids, but use wisely the money already appropriated for welfare for it….. don’t look for more funds.,…. don‘t ask and you won’t have screaming people.

      You’ve been given a budget – and just like the majority of us – we have to stick to it or figure out how to make more money – not steal more.

      Report Post »  
  • traderdan
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:16am

    gradualism, force people to take govt money then you subject yourself to government regulation

    Report Post »  
  • HouseNegro
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:14am

    First lady Michelle Obama’s campaign for healthier school lunches needs to start with her big behind. She needs to lead by example, eat the crap they feed the kids and if her butt shrinks.

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • Conserving Ink
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:01am

    My 15 year old son refers to this as a ‘Rabid’ Duck session of congress. I think the boy has a career ahead of him.

    http://conserving-ink.blogspot.com/

    Report Post » Conserving Ink  
  • sweepsmaster
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:00am

    So the welfare kids get Roast Beef while the middle class kids have to eat PB&J. Right? Makes me sick. Gotta love this country!

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    • untameable-kate
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 1:05pm

      A part time employee of mine gets food stamps even though she and her husband both work, she has plenty of money for cigarettes and going out on Friday night but still eats for free on our dime. I ran into her in a grocery store one day after she got her stamps and her cart was full of everything you would expect, chips, pop, cookies, everything they want to take away from the kids in school. Maybe they should look at the food stamp program first.

      Report Post » Untameable-kate  
  • countryboy42
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 7:55am

    This from the FICUS? (FIrst Cow of the U.S.)

    Report Post »  
  • BenInNY
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 7:49am

    Into the ever expanding file of reasons to get government out of education.

    Report Post » BenInNY  
    • Beckofile
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:12am

      Or at least the culinary arts that they have been proven to be so brilliant.

      Report Post » Beckofile  
    • starman70
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:00am

      DUMP the Dept. of Education! Get Washington the hell out of OUR school systems!

      Report Post »  
    • charliego
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 11:54am

      @beninny
      bingo!!!

      Report Post » charliego  
  • wodiej
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 7:48am

    Good lord, more spending!! What do they need billions for to improve nutrition at schools for?? Just stop serving the junk and replace it with more healthy options. This is INSANE.

    Report Post »  
    • jedi.kep
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:06am

      Amen to that. The schools all claim they have ‘healthy food’ available for the kids, which they do, but the put it along side pizza, tacos, and fries. You are a kid. What are YOU going to grab? Cut the buffet style menu and return to good old fashioned cooking.

      Report Post » jedi.kep  
    • Beckofile
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:16am

      Jedi
      If they returned to good old fashion cookin they would have to work and think. It would not be as easy as flipping junk into the micro. I say we guarantee and 8% increase to their pension every year and they can retire at 50 years old. That is what the additional 4.5 Billion is for. Muchelle is just bailing out school works like her husband did auto workers.

      Report Post » Beckofile  
  • spendthrift
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 7:41am

    Enough is Enough….We voted…the left lost…What don’t you get? Don’t spend OUR money!

    Report Post » spendthrift  
    • The American
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 7:47am

      Amen!

      Report Post »  
    • Beckofile
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:10am

      I got one….Bring your own damn lunch to school and just shut the kitchen down. Or the kids can go to the roach coach like every one of the construction workers do? Nanny Muchelle knows best.

      Report Post » Beckofile  
    • Hondaman
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:14am

      Spendthrift – - you are EXACTLY right. Thanks for saying it so boldly.

      Report Post »  
    • Fletch
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:16am

      so much for working together …. the left is just going about business as usual and the MSM will treat them as though they’ve won the last round of elections

      Report Post » Fletch  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:22am

      They lost indeed, but until the new congress is sworn in, they still have the ability to cram anything down our throats they wish to; and for the outgoing members, they especially no longer have anything to lose – so I expect them to go for broke.

      http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • oldoldtimer
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:02am

      Has absolutely nothing to do with the kids. It is all about getting control of food. They think we are too stupid(Homer Simpson) to make decisions for our selves. They are the elite they must decide for us. Little by little they will eventually gain enough control to tell mfg’s what they can make and sell. Look for massive taxes on items the ‘Gov’t’ considers unhealthy. We are already providing 2 meals a day plus giving the family food stamps for 3 meals a day(paying for 5 meals a day). Go to any school cafateria and see what the kids throw away. They refuse to eat Micheles diet. They would rather go without. Contact your Congressman and tell them NO. You have the right to chose even if it might not be the healthiest. How come POTUS and FLOTUS do not practice what they preach?

      Report Post »  
    • HouseNegro
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:32am

      FLOTUS = Fat Lady of The United States
      She needs a few carrot laced Happy Meals w/ no toy, til the swelling in her head and butt subsides.

      Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • independentvoteril
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:44am

      Beckofile.. here‘ the thing MOST schools DON’T HAVE kitchens.. kids are fed BOX LUNCHES full of preservatives subcontracted out to companies that make foods for those catering trucks.. IF schools had KITCHENS they would be able to COOK good healthy foods daily.. at 1/2 the cost.. and with 1/2 the preservatives.. kids sit at their desks most times and have 20 minutes to eat than go right back to work.. No free time to run off some of the food.. no recess.. no P.E. just sit at a desk..School breakfasts are the same as the lunches.. NONE of the foods served are filling or healthy.. Many of the kids getting free lunches have parents who get food stamps..by having their kids eat breakfast and lunch in school they save money..which allows them to have stamps to sell.. lunches are a taco.. or cheese and crackers ..1 piece of pizza.. a preschool cup of canned fruit..and a milk.. no enough to fill up anyone over 8.. and most times they run out and are feeding them left overs from the previous days lunches.. they are a JOKE and a COMPLETE waste of taxpayers money.. even if you PAY for your lunch that is all you get.. my boys (who by the way were NOT overweight at all) brought their lunches from home.. I could buy a better lunch cheaper.. than the snacks they call lunches at the schools..

      Report Post » independentvoteril  
    • BurntHills
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 11:58am

      anyone remember that SUGAR mid-day helps boost your energy and thinking? remember the old SNICKERS* bar ads?! well, it WORKS.

      God please get these obama wannabe-dictators out of the WH.

      Report Post » BurntHills  
    • FedUpAlready
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 12:48pm

      School Lunch programs and WIC etc are funded with your Social Security Withholding, and , the Fed. steals the rest and gives an IOU. So you want to cut childhood obsesity, just cut the programs altogether. Kids will only eat what they want, so make parents provide school lunches from their food stamp money, that‘s what it’s for food, not to give them more money to buy booze and cigarettes etc.in their pockets.
      The only one getting fat are Politicians and the huge growth in Government.

      Report Post » FedUpAlready  
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