Page 1:
Wayne in Maine wrote:mike wrote:An interesting twist proposed on the SNAP program in Trump's proposed budget. A portion of SNAP benefits would be direct delivery of a parcel of staple food products. It would be a novel way to exert a degree of control over the food choices of SNAP beneficiaries. I'm surprised they didn't think of this before - Obama brought us the "Obama phones" and now Trump will bring us the "Trump food parcels."
https://www.newsmax.com/headline/trump- ... id/842874/
I'm curious what others think. Personally I think the food would be misused, sold, or wasted to some extent, just like SNAP funds are already. But I think it could be a great idea even so.
I think it's a great idea. I expect people who currently abuse the current cash/ebt programs would not bother with these parcels. I doubt there would be much of a cash market for it.
My family received "government food" on a couple occasions when my father's union was on protracted strikes. We adapted our diet - I had never had lentils before but there must have been a huge surplus because we got lots of them. The canned beef was a real treat (makes a good meat pie), and my mother found 50 ways to prepare the "canned meat" (a spam like substance).
i have not heard more about this proposed program in mike’s OP ..
but, today, i read of an Illinois proposal for school lunches that seems logical.
Illinois bill could withhold income taxes if students owe lunch money
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/illin ... 05-05-2018
.. .. If SB 2428 were to pass, it stated that when the debt reaches $500, would allow the school district to request the Illinois Comptroller to withhold the parents' income tax returns so it could pay off the debt.
"So, if parents start seeing 'Oh this is something that's going to affect me and not just affect my child,' maybe that will motivate the parents more to put money into their children's accounts," Student Faith Haley said.
If the district has made reasonable efforts to try and collect the debt that money will be given back to the school districts to shore up their food funds.
"To think that we'd be required to allow a household to go $500. It’d be tough on any district," Martel said.
The bill, if passed, would also make sure schools don't publicly identify or stigmatize a student who cannot pay for a lunch or who owes money for lunches.
The bill passed the Senate with a vote of 41-9-1 and will now head to the Illinois House of Representatives for consideration.
it’s hard to imagine running up a debt of $500 for school lunches ..
i believe the idea is to not deny lunch or shame students at school, but, to
go to parents to pay their bills.
adults-to-adults. i like that idea.
gov schools are funded with everyone’s combined tax dollars, it’s logical to look at taxes to recover shortfalls.
[heaven knows, when obamacare “came up short,” that cost was passed right along to individuals (like me) there was no escape, assessed taxes were “recovered” through bank auto-pay for obamacare shortages directly through our Federal tax returns. 3 years out, i’m finally paid-in-full on that debacle.]
this proposal is different, the lunches have been provided and eaten, parents have not paid;
it seems, this is a generous offer to resolve that debt. without bothering children over it.
hopefully, many parents would choose to keep accounts paid, to avoid the hassle with state income taxes.
this is outside free lunches provided for low income, etc.
i do not like the idea of added bookkeeping, etc., but, face it. this is a CHRONIC problem, evidently, there is a lot of abuse. children+schools are held hostage by parents. if something practical+effective can be done ..
i would prefer it begin as an experiment, with accountability and end dates, before made permanent.
i’m wondering if others have any experience with similar, or thoughts-questions?