By a single vote, a House bill providing free school lunches to additional students from low-income families was defeated today (Mon) in the North Dakota Senate.
The bill called for $6 million in state grants in the next two years, for school districts to cover expenses of free meals for students at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
Under the national program, kids in households with incomes below 130 percent of the poverty level qualify for free meals. Those with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the poverty line qualify for reduced-price meals.
Republican Sen. Michael Wobbema of Valley City said the state should not add money to a federally-backed program.
Wobbema said: “Yes, I can understand kids going hungry, but is that really the problem of the school district? Is that the problem of the state of North Dakota? It’s really the problem of parents being negligent with their kids, if their kids are choosing to eat in the first place which is entirely the problem that could be existing here.”
Republican Sen. Michele Axtman of Bismarck supported the bill.
“I understand the personal responsibility argument,” she said, “however, a 9-year-old can’t get a job and can’t pay (for) their own school lunches.”
Axtman added: “That money is not going into the pockets of the parents to do whatever they want. It is to feed the children.”
The bill was rejected on a 24-to-23 vote.
The original House bill requested $89.5 million for free lunches to all K-12 students.
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