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:

1. sweetened beverages including sodas,
2. sweets such as gelatin dessert, candy, ice cream, pudding and Popsicles. 

The original bill went even further and included:

1. muffins, sweet rolls, cakes, cupcakes, pies, cobblers, pastries, and doughnuts;
2. 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:

1. a bag of Ghiradelli dark chocolate
2. a loaf of white bread
3. a bag of Doritos
4. a one liter bottle of fanta orange soda
5. red jello
6. a carton of hummus
7. 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:

1. prohibit the use of food stamps at fast food restaurants
2. 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.

Glitter Bombs and Stadiums as Homeless Shelters and my Budding Animal Rights Activist

Hi everyone,
Lobby Day is fast approaching. I feel a bit like an event planner at this point. Thanks so much to Jen Coronell (MSW) and Sam Salver (BSW) for all their hard work on this event.

Here are a couple of interesting things going on in the world of policy. What do you think about glitter bombs as an advocacy strategy? Rather unique way to get a point across. Watch the video below of Newt Gingrich being glitter bombed.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSb3kTA6vVI

Rick Santorum was glitter bombed in Tampa yesterday by some Occupy protesters.

Secondly Sen. Mike Bennet has proposed a bill (SB 816) that was approved unanimously by the Senate Community Affairs Committee Monday. It would require sports stadiums to refund tax breaks to citizens. Sports franchises get $166,000 per month in tax breaks. Sen. Bennet would fine teams for blacking out events on TV and forces them to return money to citizens. he is attempting to expose corporate welfare.

The same bill would also let homeless people use sports facilities built with state money to be opened as shelters when not in use. Thoughts?

On a personal note I'll share a story that made me so proud of my 3 year old-Hobbes. We were out riding bikes after school/work last night. A neighbor's little bitty dog (teacup chihuahua) ran out and started barking at us. She ran after him and proceeded to yell at the dog over and over. He was cowering. She finally caught him and proceeded to hit him repeatedly while continuing the verbal assault. My husband, Ruby and I stood by shocked at was occurring but stayed silent when all of a sudden our little guy yelled, "Hey Lady stop that now." She stopped immediately, looked mortified, and retreated into her house. He turned to me and said, "that wasn't ok to do to that dog." I just picked him up and gave me a big hug and told him how proud I was of him. Perhaps I have a budding animal rights activist on my hands. It is so important to raise our voices when things don't seem right. Sometimes it takes a 3 year old to remind us of the good we can all do by speaking our minds and righting a wrong.

Would you listen to this little guy on his tricycle?

This is Wally-who must have inspired Hobbes to be a protector of dogs.

Have a great week. Speak your mind.
Dr. D.

Update on Policy: tuesday Jan. 17th

Lots is going on in Tallahassee and DC.

I was in DC last week for a conference. Sadly Congress was still in recess so I didn't get to go sit in the House or Senate gallery and watch for my version of celebrity sightings. I did get to walk the entire National Mall and I have to say the new MLK monument is beautiful. It's right on the Potomac River basin and quite moving. All of DC seemed to be under renovation including the entire reflecting pool. Perhaps President Obama has taken on federal works projects as a stimulus to the economy. I also went on the Capitol tour again and walked through the Library of Congress. A trip to DC is a must for anyone interested in policy. I think it's time to take the kids too!

In state news the Senate approved the redistricting maps. There is still plenty of time for debate and disagreement when the House finally gets to the maps and when they inevitably must work out the differences in conference committee.

At the federal level all the talk today is about SOPA and PIPA. You know the best bills always have good acronyms! As many of you have heard Wikipedia and lots of other websites have taken their content down today to protest these bills. What a fantastic policy advocacy plan. The bills were intended to cut down on internet piracy but opposition worries about the internet becoming less open and more monitored. Not sure where I fall on this issue but I tend to believe the opponents.

Here's to a great week. Be well. Work hard. Play hard.

Dr. D.

Guns and Children

Seriously I can't believe this state. How can it be legal to carry a gun into a child care center? Why would you need to? What in the world would make anyone think this is a good idea? Clearly we don't want teachers with guns. Do parents who just happen to be carrying a gun on them need the right to continue to carry it during drop-off and pick-up? Perhaps I have my head buried in some liberal sandpit but I in no way want my sweet 3 year old son anywhere near anyone carrying a gun. Look at this face.

Apparently there are some like minded Delray Beach (love my little community) Democrats that feel the same way-Representatives Lori Berman (who is on FAU's School of Social Work's new Community Board) and Senator Maria Sachs. They have filed bills that would ban guns in child care centers and public buildings. The bill (HB 1087 and S B 1340) would impose civil penalties and removal from office for local officials who ignore the law. Oh and yes that means that right now you can carry a gun into the state Capitol buildings. They are not allowed in committee meetings (are there big bins outside the door of committee rooms where you put your gun while you work?).  It really is a bit like the wild wild west.

To read more about the bill:
http://www.brevarddems.com/general-news/rep-lori-berman-files-hb-1087-for-public-safety

In other news the gambling bill is stalled in House committee while a Senate panel approved redistricting maps.

Finally a House subcommittee approved a bill that would bar anyone with a felony drug conviction from receiving food stamps or TANF cash assistance. This is an old issue that was dealt with in the federal reform of welfare in 1996. It keeps coming back in more conservative states.

I'm off to DC to a conference. Will hopefully at least walk through the Capitol though the House and Senate are still in recess until next week.

Dr. D.

2012 Florida Legislative Session Opens today

Today is the first day of the 2012 Legislative session. The session is meeting earlier this year due to the time lines regarding Congressional redistricting which is required every 10 years. The legislature needs to finish the new boundaries early this Spring so that the Courts have time to work out the appeals before the elections in the Fall. Redistricting this year is especially contentious because the citizens of Florida passed Amendments 5 & 6 in the Fall of 2010 requiring the legislators to draw boundaries that are contiguous and take into account natural geographic boundaries and city and county limits. Doing it this way will reduce the instances of gerrymandering where districts are drawn to benefit one political party over another. Florida was a particularly egregious violator. Districts will likely change dramatically meaning that Republican strongholds will be vulnerable. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 500,000 yet they are in the minority in the Florida Legislature and in the delegation to the US House.

The redistricting will be a policy priority of the legislature for sure with the budget close behind. Those two issues will dominate the session, legislators, and the media. There are a few other policy items that are getting some attention. The biggest of these is the expansion of gambling in the state. Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, and Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, sponsored the bill that would allow up to 3 additional resort casinos to operate in the state. The bill also creates a new statewide commission to regulate gambling in the state. It would also expand store-front gambling operations. So in the end it would be quite an expansion of gambling in the state. Proponents see dollar signs in terms of taxes, and possible job creation. Opponents worry about the image of the state as a family friendly vacation spot and the possibility of an increase in crime and gambling addiction.

Another bill getting some attention is "Caylee's Law." This bill was a  result of the Casey Anthony acquittal. The House proposal would make it a felony for a parent or guardian not to tell authorities if a child is missing or dead. I can't believe this isn't the case already.

To read the Palm Beach Post article:http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/budget-district-boundaries-will-be-key-issues-as-2087709.html

It should be an interesting 60 days. The start of a new session always brings me pangs of desire to be back in the capitol working on policy advocacy everyday. Yet I do not miss the long days and am happy to be home with my little ones at night instead of hanging out with legislators in bars.  It helps that I am off to DC later this week for a conference.

See you soon.
Dr. D.