Some Obama Allies Fear School Lunch Bill Could Rob Food Stamp Program

Helen ^.^
Posting number: 1
Topic: Health/Education
Title: Some Obama Allies Fear School Lunch Bill Could Rob Food Stamp Program
Author: Robert Pear
Publication Name: New York Times
Date of Publication: September 23,2010
Length: 807

Main Idea:
Michelle Obama wanted to improve the nutrition in schools by spending more money on school lunch programs.The passing of this bill would allow the department of agriculture to set health standards for schools and allow children on medicaid to qualify for free school meals. Some People like Martha B. Coven (councilor on White House's Domestic policy council) say that it is good that people want to invest in schools and healthy nutrition for the future of America.
When the senate passed the bill in august a lot of people weren't in favor of it. Organizations including Catholic Charities USA, Food Research And Action Center, A.F.L-C.I.O and over 100 house Democrats supported the bill when it comes to nutrition but disagreed on funding the bill by taking away money from the food stamp program. Edward M. Cooney (director of the Congressional Hunger Center) says "It is wrong to take money from food stamps to finance child nutrition programs?....You are taking money from low-income people in one program and spending it on low-income people — maybe the same people — in another program."


Conclusion:
People are in favor of the bill that is trying to fight childhood obesity and trying to provide better lunch for children but people dont like the fact that in order for children to get better lunches they have to take money away from the food stamp program.

Any alternatives to make this bill better in your opinion?