Well the 2012 Florida Legislative Session drew to a close last Friday. The legislature is being called back into a special session beginning Wednesday though. They must rewrite the Senate redistricting map that was declared unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court (the House one was approved). They did get the budget approved which many thought they might also have to take up in the special session. The session will run from March 14th-28th.
Florida lawmakers passed 292 bills of the 2052 that were filed (14% passage rate).
The Palm Beach Post article summarizing the session can be found here:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/2012-florida-legislative-session-winners-and-losers-2230125.html
Dr. D.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Commentary from FAU's President Saunders on Higher Ed Cuts
This was published in the Palm Beach Post today. Please take the time to call if FAU is important to you.
This commentary by President Saunders is in today’s Palm Beach Post.
FAU needs public support to avert budget disaster
by Mary Jane Saunders
If ever there were a time for the people of South Florida to rally behind Florida Atlantic University, this is it.
In just a few days, the Florida Senate will consider a bill that seeks to strip $400 million out of the State University System, including $47 million from FAU -- one-third of the university's annual state subsidy budget. Most of the "carry forward" that FAU has on its books is committed legislatively to ongoing projects or required to meet fiscal regulations. Cuts at that level will not be merely difficult to deal with -- they will be disastrous, leading to the financial crippling of Florida's 11 fine public universities, which are absolutely essential to the state's economic well-being.
FAU has just finished celebrating its 50th anniversary year. Over the course of that half-century, it has grown into a major pillar of support for South Floridians, awarding degrees to more than 125,000 men and women, annually contributing tens of thousands of student and faculty volunteer hours to nonprofit organizations and conducting highly productive, advanced research in biomedicine, biotechnology, ocean engineering and a host of other important areas.
In fulfillment of its promise to put a university education within the reach of everyone in South Florida who has the desire and the ability to earn a four-year degree, FAU has established campuses and specialized sites in seven locations stretching along the Florida coastline from Dania Beach to Fort Pierce. Last fall, a record-high 29,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at FAU, including the superbly qualified 64-member founding class of the university's new Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. That much-needed medical education initiative attracted tremendous support as more than 250 local physicians signed on as lecturers and mentors and five leading area hospitals formed a consortium to provide our students with all-important residencies.
A study released late last year shows that FAU contributes $4 billion to the economy of its six-county service region, and that figure promises to grow as our medical school continues its development and our new football stadium becomes an active hub of sports activities. By every measure, FAU is poised to advance to a whole new level of service, contributing to the strong educational infrastructure that is needed for Florida to make the critically important transition from an economy reliant on agriculture and tourism to one based on the clean industries that are emerging from 21st-century technologies. But FAU's growth -- and the growth of our entire economy -- will be stopped in its tracks if the Senate moves forward with its shortsighted, destructive and ultimately self-defeating slashing of the higher education budget.
FAU urgently needs your help. Please contact your state legislators today by email or telephone and let them know in the strongest possible terms that FAU is a valued component of this community and must have adequate funding to keep providing essential services. To identify and contact your state senator, go to http://flsenate.gov/senators/find.
While the Florida House is considering a much less drastic bill that calls for $5.7 million in cuts to FAU, you can make your support of the university known to them as well by going to http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/representatives.aspx.
Should the Senate bill prevail, here's the worst-case scenario: the complete elimination of some degree programs, the closing of some campuses, cancellation of the summer semester and more layoffs, all against the backdrop of ongoing tuition increases. Please don't let our university, our community and our state be damaged in this way. Please raise your voice to demand adequate funding for higher education in Florida.
Mary Jane Saunders is president of Florida Atlantic University.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The Politics of Food and the Cost of Your Education
Wow. There is so much going on in the world of politics this week. The Florida state session has 3 weeks left and the budget battle is heating up. Higher education is on the chopping block. FAU is poised to lose one-third of its state funding while at the same time the Governor is opposed to tuition raises. So how exactly are public universities supposed to deal with huge budget cuts while admissions are soaring? This is an extremely personal issue given my job as a professor at FAU. I recommend students call their Senators and Representatives and urge them not to pass cuts in higher education budgets.
To read the New York Times article go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/20/us/florida-set-for-new-cut-in-spending-on-colleges.html?_r=1
On a national level there has been interesting movement in the fight for marriage equality with Washington State adopting a marriage equality law. While at the same time New Jersey governor Chris Christie (R) vetoed a bill passed by the NJ legislature and Maryland's is on the brink of passage. I have never understood how opponents to marriage equality think that gay marriage is a threat to the sanctity of marriage. It seems to me that it's a testament to the belief in the value of marriage. To read an insightful opinion piece on the matter go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/opinion/bruni-value-our-families.html?ref=opinion
Now on to the politics of food...It seems that the Food Stamp junk food ban may be close to dead in the Florida House which has stripped the ban from HB 1401 (still seeking to stop welfare recipients from withdrawing cash from ATMs in liquor stores and strip clubs though). It is still in the Senate bill which means a conference committee may have to work out the differences in these two bills. On a national level the fight against junk food continues with the Obama administration putting together new guidelines on snack food sold in vending machines in schools. This is will undoubtedly be a big fight between health food advocates (parents often) and the snack food industry. Research shows that there has been little change in the snacking habits of children even though some progress has been made to reduce calorie contents, sugar, and fat in snacks. One of the reasons may be that while healthier options are being offered it's often alongside less nutritious ones. How do you get kids to make healthier decisions? Is the solution to stop offering junk food all together at school?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/us/politics/new-rules-planned-on-school-vending-machines.html?ref=politics
On a personal note the debate about food politics is alive and well in our household. As a reminder I have a 3 year old and a 7 year old. My husband is a runner. He runs so much that he can eat all he wants all day everyday. In fact he's thin and I am telling him all the time to eat more. My kids are little too, always have been. They are the kids who fell off the regular growth chart at like 6 months and our pediatrician had to create their own growth chart. For anyone with kids you remember how obsessive you track their weight as they grow. At the same time I am a Crossfit addict (a gym that offers pretty extreme cross training). My trainers and most of the people I work out with advocate for (and I have just started following) a paleo diet of unprocessed foods (lots of meat, vegetables and nuts). So this means that I eat a much more restricted diet than my family. I have shopped at Whole Foods for years buying all of our meat there. I only give my kids organic diary products as I worry about the effect hormones might have on them. I grow our own vegetables (not all of them as my community garden plot is small). When this conversation about banning junk food purchases by food stamp recipients came up it was pointed out to me by a student that I had somewhat confusing stance on it (I thought it was silly to ban the purchase and worried about the effect on kids) given my concern over the health of the food my kids eat. I agreed that it was confusing. But my kids for the most part do get to snack on junk food. Ruby will tell you her favorite chip is a Funyon. Her dad buys all kinds of stuff (Doritos, powdered donuts, trips to Dunkin Doughnuts on Saturday morning). And finally what I think is unfair about the ban is that it was just targeting poor families. Why shouldn't we ban the purchases by everyone? This is why the Obama administration's attempts to change what is in school vending machines seems like a more egalitarian response to the crisis of childhood obesity.
This debate continues when we make decisions about where to go out to eat. I have for a long time banned chain restaurants mostly in favor of small local businesses but also because the nutritional quality of the food offered is so poor. This drives my husband crazy as he pines away for a trip to Fridays or Applebees. I gave in last night. He was over the moon. At one point at dinner he said to my daughter, "This night is good for you Ruby. It's a cultural journey for you to learn what is ordinary for most people." As we walked out he said, "Maybe we'll come back in another 2 years."
So I guess this debate is a personal one. We have friends whose 7 year olds are on diets already. I just happen to have little kids and a small commitment to healthy eating. For anyone who knows us you also know that we severely limit their screen time (no commercial tv, some days 30 minutes no more and often no screen time) and we value lots of sleep. We spend most of our free time outside, riding bikes, and going to the beach. The introduction of an IPad in the house is starting to challenge the limits as the kids learn to play with lots of different aps. My son woke up in the middle of the night this weekend asking to play the game Water. My husband walked his little behind right back to bed. It's amazing how addictive computer games can be. I know as my own obsession with Words with Friends grows. So it seems important to remember how linked physical activity is with the issue of obesity too.
It's an exciting time to be interested in policy. Have a good week. Be engaged in something you believe in.
Dr. D.
To read the New York Times article go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/20/us/florida-set-for-new-cut-in-spending-on-colleges.html?_r=1
On a national level there has been interesting movement in the fight for marriage equality with Washington State adopting a marriage equality law. While at the same time New Jersey governor Chris Christie (R) vetoed a bill passed by the NJ legislature and Maryland's is on the brink of passage. I have never understood how opponents to marriage equality think that gay marriage is a threat to the sanctity of marriage. It seems to me that it's a testament to the belief in the value of marriage. To read an insightful opinion piece on the matter go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/opinion/bruni-value-our-families.html?ref=opinion
Now on to the politics of food...It seems that the Food Stamp junk food ban may be close to dead in the Florida House which has stripped the ban from HB 1401 (still seeking to stop welfare recipients from withdrawing cash from ATMs in liquor stores and strip clubs though). It is still in the Senate bill which means a conference committee may have to work out the differences in these two bills. On a national level the fight against junk food continues with the Obama administration putting together new guidelines on snack food sold in vending machines in schools. This is will undoubtedly be a big fight between health food advocates (parents often) and the snack food industry. Research shows that there has been little change in the snacking habits of children even though some progress has been made to reduce calorie contents, sugar, and fat in snacks. One of the reasons may be that while healthier options are being offered it's often alongside less nutritious ones. How do you get kids to make healthier decisions? Is the solution to stop offering junk food all together at school?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/us/politics/new-rules-planned-on-school-vending-machines.html?ref=politics
On a personal note the debate about food politics is alive and well in our household. As a reminder I have a 3 year old and a 7 year old. My husband is a runner. He runs so much that he can eat all he wants all day everyday. In fact he's thin and I am telling him all the time to eat more. My kids are little too, always have been. They are the kids who fell off the regular growth chart at like 6 months and our pediatrician had to create their own growth chart. For anyone with kids you remember how obsessive you track their weight as they grow. At the same time I am a Crossfit addict (a gym that offers pretty extreme cross training). My trainers and most of the people I work out with advocate for (and I have just started following) a paleo diet of unprocessed foods (lots of meat, vegetables and nuts). So this means that I eat a much more restricted diet than my family. I have shopped at Whole Foods for years buying all of our meat there. I only give my kids organic diary products as I worry about the effect hormones might have on them. I grow our own vegetables (not all of them as my community garden plot is small). When this conversation about banning junk food purchases by food stamp recipients came up it was pointed out to me by a student that I had somewhat confusing stance on it (I thought it was silly to ban the purchase and worried about the effect on kids) given my concern over the health of the food my kids eat. I agreed that it was confusing. But my kids for the most part do get to snack on junk food. Ruby will tell you her favorite chip is a Funyon. Her dad buys all kinds of stuff (Doritos, powdered donuts, trips to Dunkin Doughnuts on Saturday morning). And finally what I think is unfair about the ban is that it was just targeting poor families. Why shouldn't we ban the purchases by everyone? This is why the Obama administration's attempts to change what is in school vending machines seems like a more egalitarian response to the crisis of childhood obesity.
This debate continues when we make decisions about where to go out to eat. I have for a long time banned chain restaurants mostly in favor of small local businesses but also because the nutritional quality of the food offered is so poor. This drives my husband crazy as he pines away for a trip to Fridays or Applebees. I gave in last night. He was over the moon. At one point at dinner he said to my daughter, "This night is good for you Ruby. It's a cultural journey for you to learn what is ordinary for most people." As we walked out he said, "Maybe we'll come back in another 2 years."
So I guess this debate is a personal one. We have friends whose 7 year olds are on diets already. I just happen to have little kids and a small commitment to healthy eating. For anyone who knows us you also know that we severely limit their screen time (no commercial tv, some days 30 minutes no more and often no screen time) and we value lots of sleep. We spend most of our free time outside, riding bikes, and going to the beach. The introduction of an IPad in the house is starting to challenge the limits as the kids learn to play with lots of different aps. My son woke up in the middle of the night this weekend asking to play the game Water. My husband walked his little behind right back to bed. It's amazing how addictive computer games can be. I know as my own obsession with Words with Friends grows. So it seems important to remember how linked physical activity is with the issue of obesity too.
It's an exciting time to be interested in policy. Have a good week. Be engaged in something you believe in.
Dr. D.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
State Session Update
Apparently the privatization of prisons is dead. Sen. Mike Fasano (R) won this battle yesterday when the Senate defeated the proposal with a vote of 19 yeas to 21 nays. Prison guards and their family members became permanent fixtures at the Capitol over the last few weeks, testifying in hearings and making their personal stories known. Thousands of them would have lost their jobs. The other main opposition was people who believe that public safety should stay public and not be outsourced to private for-profit establishments.
In other news the issue of school prayer is moving forward and seems likely to be signed into law. It still seems like a terrible idea to me just because I think prayer is a private issue and if I want my kids to be preached to then I will take them to church or enroll them in a private religious school. How in the heck will this be monitored? I feel sorry for school administrators who are going to have to deal with this. I must say that in terms of constitutionality it may stand up. When we were in Tallahassee last week both the House and the Senate started their session with prayers-very religious and Christian oriented might I add.
Just saying...no commentary needed.
In a much smaller policy arena I was surprised to find that my kids' schools have new Valentine's Day policies in place. Students are only allowed to sign their name on the cards and can not address cards to individual students. What? How is that the fullest experience of Valentines Day? Isn't it supposed to be a heart wrenching day full of highs and lows and serious examination of who gave you what card and message? I generally believe in egalitarianism but I think we are failing to teach our kids about the realities of life through this policy. Charlie Brown might be happy with these policies but they just seem too stripped of life's truest statements of love and friendship to me.
Have a great week. Lighten up a little and have some fun. Life is short. Try to catch some lizards with a net while wearing your dad's t-shirt like a kimono...
Dr. D.
In other news the issue of school prayer is moving forward and seems likely to be signed into law. It still seems like a terrible idea to me just because I think prayer is a private issue and if I want my kids to be preached to then I will take them to church or enroll them in a private religious school. How in the heck will this be monitored? I feel sorry for school administrators who are going to have to deal with this. I must say that in terms of constitutionality it may stand up. When we were in Tallahassee last week both the House and the Senate started their session with prayers-very religious and Christian oriented might I add.
Just saying...no commentary needed.
In a much smaller policy arena I was surprised to find that my kids' schools have new Valentine's Day policies in place. Students are only allowed to sign their name on the cards and can not address cards to individual students. What? How is that the fullest experience of Valentines Day? Isn't it supposed to be a heart wrenching day full of highs and lows and serious examination of who gave you what card and message? I generally believe in egalitarianism but I think we are failing to teach our kids about the realities of life through this policy. Charlie Brown might be happy with these policies but they just seem too stripped of life's truest statements of love and friendship to me.
Have a great week. Lighten up a little and have some fun. Life is short. Try to catch some lizards with a net while wearing your dad's t-shirt like a kimono...
Dr. D.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Home Again Home Again
The annual trip to the state capitol is complete. FAU had over 60 students at this year's NASW student Lobby Day. I had a great group of students as leaders of this trip (Jen, Sam, Terese, Paola, Richard, Dani, Malia) and they managed to pull off the entire event without a hitch. 
I also had an amazing group of students in attendance. I feel so lucky to be their professor and to be able to watch them soak up policy experiences. Some of the highlights of the trip include:
I hope that students left Tallahassee with the knowledge that they can not only be involved in the legislative process but also make change that will have a lasting impact on social justice.
- Dinner at Andrew's Capitol Grill with legislators (Thanks to Representative Irv Slosberg and Lori Berman-{pictured below} for being in attendance).
- A great NASW training event Monday night (Thanks to Johanna Byrd)
- Watching interesting policy being debated in committee hearings and on the full floor of the House and Senate.
- Particularly fun was watching as a bill moved through the third reading in the Senate. It was a bill that removed the requirement that you ride your bike with at least one hand on the handlebar. A Senator asked the following question after it was read, "So this is the bill that would let us legally say, "Look mom, no hands!" The sponsor said, "yes, sir." and it moved onto the calendar for a vote.
I hope that students left Tallahassee with the knowledge that they can not only be involved in the legislative process but also make change that will have a lasting impact on social justice. No back to my other responsibilities!
There was lots of movement in a variety of policy areas at the end of the week from birth control coverage to Florida redistricting map approval. I was too tired and behind in all other areas of my life to monitor these closely. More commentary later in the week, I promise.
One last story to tell...My daughter told me on Friday that her teacher led a policy exercise in her 1st grade class. They were asked, "If you were the President, what one law would you enact?" Her answer was fantastic and the reason why I think kids should be in charge of our country. She said she would not let anyone pollute the air. You would not be able to build a factor that pollutes the sky because birds die, the sky gets dark, and pollution kills animals. Then she added one more law. She said no one would be allowed to have a gun. She said, "maybe you could have a sword but not use it." So cute.
Have a great week.
Dr. D.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Prayer and Prisons
Lots of interesting policy news in the paper this morning.
The Florida Senate approved a bill that will allow students (not teachers or parents) to organize "inspirational messages" (prayers) at school assemblies and sporting events. I have no idea how this will be constitutional. It seems like the Florida legislature is in the business of keeping the courts and the ACLU busy. Not that I am against prayer but how in the world will this be monitored?
Privatizing prisons has hit a snag. Watch out when you speak your mind. Sometimes it will get you removed from your committee chairmanship. Republican Senator Mike Fasano was stripped of his chair person's position on the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations committee. He was on MSNBC on Tuesday speaking his mind and lo and behold he was removed by Senate President Mike Haridopolos on Wednesday. To watch the clip go here:
http://video.app.msn.com/watch/video/undercrowded-florida-prisons-present-strange-challenge/6bqelzi
It's my own personal opinion that I would hate to be imprisoned in a private facility. Why would they ever want to parole anyone if a business is making money off of people's imprisonment? Seriously scary thought.
In other more promising news Oxycodone sales fell 97% in 2011. This is both a result of legislative changes and police crackdowns on clinics. For anyone who told their story on this issue you should be proud of being a part of this important social change.
In a follow-up to the post I wrote about the debates about adding restricted foods to the food stamps program, I wanted to tell you a story about Ruby, my 7 year old daughter. Many of you have heard me tell stories about her before. To preface this I must say that she is one bright little kid who can hold her own in any conversation with any adult.
We were at the dinner table (salmon, veggies, and brown rice!) and were talking about our days as we always do. I was telling her about this bill. When I ran down the list of things they wanted to prohibit. She shrieked..."pretzels, popcorn. Those are healthy snacks. Ice cream? It's made from milk. Popsicles? There are totally healthy Popsicles made entirely from fruit. What are they thinking?" It was so cute and completely accurate. Why would they put those items on the list. About 10 minutes after dinner she came running back into the kitchen where I was cleaning up. She asked, "So we can't buy those things at the store anymore?" I said, "no honey, the bill has not become law yet." She asked, "will no one be able to buy those things?" Again I said, "no honey it's just if you are poor and using your food stamp money to grocery shop." She ran back to her room. I figured I had answered everything she would want or need to know about the bill. But here she came again. She ran into the kitchen (this is the reason little kids don't usually have weight issues..they run everywhere) and asked, "mommy are we poor?" Rob looked at me like how were we going to answer this one. I said, "no honey, we aren't poor." My sweet Buddhist like husband went on to explain to her how meaningless money is and gave her an international comparison speech about how income differs depending on where you live in the world. I launched into a discussion of median income and relative versus absolute poverty definitions. She looked a little overwhelmed at this point. So we both bent down and gave her a big hug. I said, "are you happy, healthy and loved?" She said yes. And I said, "then you don't need to worry about whether you are rich or poor."
There are times when I totally understand how the number one predictor of kid's success in school and life is how educated their parents are. Between the two of us we have 7 college degrees. My sweet children have just a little bit of pressure on them to excel academically! Here she is doing a little light reading one night...
The Florida Senate approved a bill that will allow students (not teachers or parents) to organize "inspirational messages" (prayers) at school assemblies and sporting events. I have no idea how this will be constitutional. It seems like the Florida legislature is in the business of keeping the courts and the ACLU busy. Not that I am against prayer but how in the world will this be monitored?
Privatizing prisons has hit a snag. Watch out when you speak your mind. Sometimes it will get you removed from your committee chairmanship. Republican Senator Mike Fasano was stripped of his chair person's position on the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations committee. He was on MSNBC on Tuesday speaking his mind and lo and behold he was removed by Senate President Mike Haridopolos on Wednesday. To watch the clip go here:
http://video.app.msn.com/watch/video/undercrowded-florida-prisons-present-strange-challenge/6bqelzi
It's my own personal opinion that I would hate to be imprisoned in a private facility. Why would they ever want to parole anyone if a business is making money off of people's imprisonment? Seriously scary thought.
In other more promising news Oxycodone sales fell 97% in 2011. This is both a result of legislative changes and police crackdowns on clinics. For anyone who told their story on this issue you should be proud of being a part of this important social change.
In a follow-up to the post I wrote about the debates about adding restricted foods to the food stamps program, I wanted to tell you a story about Ruby, my 7 year old daughter. Many of you have heard me tell stories about her before. To preface this I must say that she is one bright little kid who can hold her own in any conversation with any adult.
We were at the dinner table (salmon, veggies, and brown rice!) and were talking about our days as we always do. I was telling her about this bill. When I ran down the list of things they wanted to prohibit. She shrieked..."pretzels, popcorn. Those are healthy snacks. Ice cream? It's made from milk. Popsicles? There are totally healthy Popsicles made entirely from fruit. What are they thinking?" It was so cute and completely accurate. Why would they put those items on the list. About 10 minutes after dinner she came running back into the kitchen where I was cleaning up. She asked, "So we can't buy those things at the store anymore?" I said, "no honey, the bill has not become law yet." She asked, "will no one be able to buy those things?" Again I said, "no honey it's just if you are poor and using your food stamp money to grocery shop." She ran back to her room. I figured I had answered everything she would want or need to know about the bill. But here she came again. She ran into the kitchen (this is the reason little kids don't usually have weight issues..they run everywhere) and asked, "mommy are we poor?" Rob looked at me like how were we going to answer this one. I said, "no honey, we aren't poor." My sweet Buddhist like husband went on to explain to her how meaningless money is and gave her an international comparison speech about how income differs depending on where you live in the world. I launched into a discussion of median income and relative versus absolute poverty definitions. She looked a little overwhelmed at this point. So we both bent down and gave her a big hug. I said, "are you happy, healthy and loved?" She said yes. And I said, "then you don't need to worry about whether you are rich or poor."
There are times when I totally understand how the number one predictor of kid's success in school and life is how educated their parents are. Between the two of us we have 7 college degrees. My sweet children have just a little bit of pressure on them to excel academically! Here she is doing a little light reading one night...
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Can we tell poor people what to eat?
Today is the Florida Republican primary. So if you are a Republican get out and vote. It's your right and privilege. Should be fun to watch the results come in tonight.
Second there was a fascinating article in the Palm Beach Post this morning about a bill that would ban the purchase of junk food with food stamps. Read the article here:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/florida-bill-would-prohibit-welfare-cards-as-payment-2136763.html
The bill that passed the House Health and Human Services committee (HB 1401) sponsored by Rep. Rhonda Storms (R-Valrico) would ban the purchase of the following items:
Ok so the point of this story is I don't think we should tell parents what they can and can't buy with food stamps. We need to trust that moms will make good decisions (most of the time) and if they don't then let's make up for it with nutritious school lunches. One last question...Are we only subjecting poor people to these rules? Why not ban the purchase of junk food by everyone?
Second there was a fascinating article in the Palm Beach Post this morning about a bill that would ban the purchase of junk food with food stamps. Read the article here:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/florida-bill-would-prohibit-welfare-cards-as-payment-2136763.html
The bill that passed the House Health and Human Services committee (HB 1401) sponsored by Rep. Rhonda Storms (R-Valrico) would ban the purchase of the following items:
- sweetened beverages including sodas,
- sweets such as gelatin dessert, candy, ice cream, pudding and Popsicles.
The original bill went even further and included:
- muffins, sweet rolls, cakes, cupcakes, pies, cobblers, pastries, and doughnuts;
- salty snack foods, such as corn-based salty snacks, pretzels, party mix, popcorn and potato chips.
I have all kinds of reactions to this bill. It saddens me to think about all the little kids that would be affected by this law. I know that we all need to feed our kids nutritious food but the occasional snack food and dessert is deserved too. I can't imagine never letting my kids have pretzels as a snack or ice cream for dessert. Is it really the government's place to tell these moms (mostly) what they can and can't feed their children? Of course they could buy these items with cash instead of food stamps but what if that's all the family has left to spend on food that month.
I absolutely hate going to the store with my kids because they do ask for so much junk food that is just not necessary. One Friday I had my little guy with me at the store. He wanted to get his own basket. I was curious just what he would put in it so I indulged him knowing that I would put most if not all of it back on the shelf. Here's what he picked out:
- a bag of Ghiradelli dark chocolate
- a loaf of white bread
- a bag of Doritos
- a one liter bottle of fanta orange soda
- red jello
- a carton of hummus
- a package of chocolate chip cookie dough
It was so funny. I think it's obvious that he has me wrapped around his little finger. We ended up buying everything but the white bread. My husband could not believe it... but he was just so cute. I had visions of him in college on his own. I am pretty sure this will be his grocery list. I ended up pouring the Fanta out after I looked at the nutrition label (74 grams of sugar in a glass!).
Ok so the point of this story is I don't think we should tell parents what they can and can't buy with food stamps. We need to trust that moms will make good decisions (most of the time) and if they don't then let's make up for it with nutritious school lunches. One last question...Are we only subjecting poor people to these rules? Why not ban the purchase of junk food by everyone?
Now with all that said this bill is meaningless unless the federal government agrees to a state waiver that would include these new bans. They have yet to approve them for any other state. So it's basically a complete waste of time.
The bill would also do the following:
- prohibit the use of food stamps at fast food restaurants
- prohibit ATM transactions at liquor stores, gambling and strip club establishments. TANF (welfare) cash benefits are deposited on a debit card that can be accessed at ATMs.
The state has found that $63,000 (.03% of total transactions) over a 2 year period was withdrawn at establishments with liquor licenses. Is it worth passing a bill to potentially keep $63,000 from possibly being spent on liquor??
It seems like a gargantuan effort for a tiny benefit. It seems to me this effort is really meant to stigmatize and demonize the poor. Enough. Stop wasting taxpayer time on this issue.
I am so excited about the trip next week to Tallahassee. Perhaps this will be the issue that I discuss with my legislators. Don't forget to print out the list of your legislators and call their offices to make appointments. Just take a few minutes to talk about your opinion on a bill or an issue that you are passionate about.
Happy Tuesday,
Dr. D.
Happy Tuesday,
Dr. D.
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