Millions of American children are going without extra food this summer, after 13 states declined to participate in a federal program that helps families in need buy groceries.

Thirty-seven states, four U.S. territories and five Native American tribes are benefitting from the program, according to the Department of Agriculture. Qualifying families with children who rely on school meals to get enough to eat are getting an extra $120 per child this summer to help feed their kids.

The states that declined to participate in the program cited reasons such as problems with aging state computer systems, philosophical opposition to welfare programs, and a belief that existing free meal programs are sufficient. All 13 are led by Republican governors.

An estimated 2 million Florida children could have benefited from more than $258 million in aid this summer if state officials hadn’t turned it down. Nationwide, roughly 21 million kids are being fed by the program this year.

    • Flying Squid
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      271 month ago

      Let them blame Biden. What are people going to do, not vote for him?

      • @Atsur
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        71 month ago

        I believe that is their hope, yes

        • @samus12345
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          81 month ago

          It must have worked, because I’m certainly not voting for him!

  • Nougat
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    471 month ago

    … philosophical opposition to welfare programs, …

    I have a philosophical opposition to assholes in government.

    • @cheese_greater
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      81 month ago

      “Let my my philosophical reservations wash over ye and purify you of yer Satanic hunger pangs”

  • @[email protected]
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    421 month ago

    GOP: “maybe they shouldn’t have had kids!!”

    also GOP: “why is no one having kids!!!”

  • @WhollyGuacamole
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    181 month ago

    These states that declined the aid most likely want low-income people to have no choice but to rely on local churches for any help.

    • @dexa_scantron
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      81 month ago

      They want them to be so desperate to keep their 3 shitty minimum-wage jobs that they won’t complain about mistreatment. It’s slavery with extra steps.

  • @Xeroxchasechase
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    141 month ago

    Oh, they’ll just tell their voters it’s the libs and immigrants fault, and promise to make them suffer

    • @samus12345
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      1 month ago

      And it works like a charm. Intentionally make things shittier, tell gullible voters it’s the Demmycrats’ fault, get re-elected. Rinse and repeat.

  • Optional
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    1 month ago

    It’s true, and we’ll throw it on the pile but know this: republiQan voters - including the ones affected by this - do not care. They are in a cult.

    It’s a cult with guns and Jesus and the flag and there’s a lot of praying and pledging and all the attendant symbolism of duty and honor without either of those things. These motherfuckers are in there deep and the only way out is for them to acknowledge that.

    So when we see the corporate news doing absolutely sweet fuck all to help them do that - well, you know what we’re gonna get.

  • nkat2112
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    51 month ago

    I wonder if things would have been different for them if they voted otherwise.

  • @teamevil
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    11 month ago

    Hope the remember it was their Republican leadership that this to them

  • Media Bias Fact CheckerB
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    -41 month ago
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