Once again our governor has declined the Federal supplemental summer food program offering $29,000,000 in total ($120 per child for 240,000 Iowa children). This helpful program is tiny in relation to the almost $11,000,000,000 the state accepts annually from the Federal government.
Why has Reynolds refused this much-needed funding? Last summer her labor-intensive alternative offered only $900,000. Surely, adding balances to debit cards requires less cost, coordination, and time, than buying and boxing up food, and delivering boxes around the state, which the governor’s poorly-funded alternative requires.
A staff person at the governor’s office told me the real reason the Federal money was rejected is that summer cards are issued with the individual child’s name on them and children cannot be trusted to buy healthy food. However, this justification is neither valid nor credible. I learned from a state legislator that in fact the individual state determines whether additional summer funds are loaded onto existing SNAP cards (which are in parents’ names) or whether the state issues new summer cards which can be in either children or parent names.
Right. The individual STATE decides how to handle this question of names on the cards; there is no requirement that the individual children be on the cards. And parents CAN and DO use cards issued to their children.
So what is really going on governor Reynolds? Why do you accept literally billions from the Feds but reject millions that would go directly to families?
Why/How Democrats Are Losing Elections---In Iowa and America: "It's Economic Policy and Good Jobs, Stupid!!!" (With All Due Respect!)
For an intelligent, coherent, comprehensive, and historical viewpoint, 1970s--2024,-- Listen to the following, excellent, 40 minute, NY Times podcast (The Daily) video---interview with NY Times Magazine author/writer Dan Kaufman: "How NAFTA Broke American Politics", Oct. 8, 2024. (see Google)
The above video explains, in excellent detail, in my view, how/why Democratics have lost/are losing traditional, worker-supporters throughout the United States, including, in Iowa, and in mid-west, factory towns.
See also, original, NY Times print article, with same, above title, by Dan Kaufman, NY Times Magazine, on Sept 3, 2024, updated Sept. 6, 2024. (see Google)
Some final, additional comments----New Economic Policy and New, Second Bill of Rights!
As indicated above, in my view, to Win Again, Democrats need to return to a political agenda, which puts "Economic Policy" at the center of Democratic policies and politics, as apposed, in my view, to the current losing, "identity issue"-centered policies and politics.
Also, on the social-side of Winning---Democrats need to move beyond Obama Care affordability, and support of "affordability", generally, to support of new, individual "Rights"---specifically, move to Franklin Roosevelt's "Economic Bill of Rights", his "Second Bill of Rights" (which Democrats have too long ignored/forgotten, at their political peril and now current political decline)
In short, Democrats, to Win Again, need to offer the American people, as promised by Franklin Roosevelt, at the end of WWII---an opportunity to "move forward...to new goals of human happiness and well-being".
As a lifelong Democrat, I am sick and tired of losing elections---I want the Democratic Party, including, the Iowa Democratic Party, to Win Again/ to Lead Again---for a better, more Democratic, American Economy and America Society!!!
LETTER TO THE EDITOR DRAFT I submitted yesterday
Once again our governor has declined the Federal supplemental summer food program offering $29,000,000 in total ($120 per child for 240,000 Iowa children). This helpful program is tiny in relation to the almost $11,000,000,000 the state accepts annually from the Federal government.
Why has Reynolds refused this much-needed funding? Last summer her labor-intensive alternative offered only $900,000. Surely, adding balances to debit cards requires less cost, coordination, and time, than buying and boxing up food, and delivering boxes around the state, which the governor’s poorly-funded alternative requires.
A staff person at the governor’s office told me the real reason the Federal money was rejected is that summer cards are issued with the individual child’s name on them and children cannot be trusted to buy healthy food. However, this justification is neither valid nor credible. I learned from a state legislator that in fact the individual state determines whether additional summer funds are loaded onto existing SNAP cards (which are in parents’ names) or whether the state issues new summer cards which can be in either children or parent names.
Right. The individual STATE decides how to handle this question of names on the cards; there is no requirement that the individual children be on the cards. And parents CAN and DO use cards issued to their children.
So what is really going on governor Reynolds? Why do you accept literally billions from the Feds but reject millions that would go directly to families?
Great letter to the editor, Sue!
Why/How Democrats Are Losing Elections---In Iowa and America: "It's Economic Policy and Good Jobs, Stupid!!!" (With All Due Respect!)
For an intelligent, coherent, comprehensive, and historical viewpoint, 1970s--2024,-- Listen to the following, excellent, 40 minute, NY Times podcast (The Daily) video---interview with NY Times Magazine author/writer Dan Kaufman: "How NAFTA Broke American Politics", Oct. 8, 2024. (see Google)
The above video explains, in excellent detail, in my view, how/why Democratics have lost/are losing traditional, worker-supporters throughout the United States, including, in Iowa, and in mid-west, factory towns.
See also, original, NY Times print article, with same, above title, by Dan Kaufman, NY Times Magazine, on Sept 3, 2024, updated Sept. 6, 2024. (see Google)
Richard Sherzan
My above remarks are addressed to All Democrats!!! Again, With All Due Respect!
Richard Sherzan
Some final, additional comments----New Economic Policy and New, Second Bill of Rights!
As indicated above, in my view, to Win Again, Democrats need to return to a political agenda, which puts "Economic Policy" at the center of Democratic policies and politics, as apposed, in my view, to the current losing, "identity issue"-centered policies and politics.
Also, on the social-side of Winning---Democrats need to move beyond Obama Care affordability, and support of "affordability", generally, to support of new, individual "Rights"---specifically, move to Franklin Roosevelt's "Economic Bill of Rights", his "Second Bill of Rights" (which Democrats have too long ignored/forgotten, at their political peril and now current political decline)
In short, Democrats, to Win Again, need to offer the American people, as promised by Franklin Roosevelt, at the end of WWII---an opportunity to "move forward...to new goals of human happiness and well-being".
As a lifelong Democrat, I am sick and tired of losing elections---I want the Democratic Party, including, the Iowa Democratic Party, to Win Again/ to Lead Again---for a better, more Democratic, American Economy and America Society!!!
Richard Sherzan