End Hunger CT! Inc. E-Newsletter
School Nutrition Bill, the Budget and Summer Food
School Nutrition Bill
After passing by significant margins in the House and
the Senate, Governor Rell vetoed the School Nutrition
bill. The legislation would have banned sugary soda
and junk foods from school, while requiring a 20-
minute period of physical activity in elementary
schools. A large majority of Connecticut adults,
parents, health care professionals and child
advocates supported both initiatives while the
Connecticut Board of Educations, school
administrators, the soda companies and the snack
lobby did not. The Governor stated that she did not
like the state impinging on local control and parental
responsibility, even though many parents and public
health advocates urged her to support the bill as a
means to control the burgeoning childhood obesity
epidemic and to support parents in the battle to
teach children good habits when surrounded by so
much temptation. (See photo above which shows
a note inside a vending machine requesting students
contact the Governor to veto the bill.)
In her veto message Governor Rell called on the
Commissioner of the State Department of Education
to encourage schools to teach children about good
nutrition. However it is clear that some schools have
no desire to practice good nutrition as they worked
against the bill together with the soda companies and
the snack food lobby. That points out the need for
statewide standards that ALL schools would follow.
The state should be creating examples for children,
not making it more difficult for parents. The message
sent to children, with junk food choices readily
available and used as fundraisers, is one of tacit
approval - at complete odds with many parents'
desires.
We urge all our members to take this issue to their
local Board of Educations, and to their school
administrators. Kids need healthful food at school to
learn and exercise to keep them alert. More
information on the bill will be coming in the following
months. Kudos go to Senate Pro Tem Donald
Williams, Sentator Tom Gaffey, Representative
Andrew Fleischmann and Representative Michael
Cardin for their leadership on the bill!
The Budget
Synopsis of Budget Items Related to Food and Taxes
Nutrition Assistance (SSNAP):
$336,760. This is an increase over the last two year's
budgets and the Governor's proposed budget by
$9,809.
State Supplemental Food Stamps
(Food
stamps for legal immigrants): $202,148. Funding of
this line item indicates that the program will remain
open - the Governor's proposed budget had closed
new intake and had budgeted significantly less money.
Connecticut Food Policy Council :
$25,000. The Governor's proposed budget eliminated
funding.
School Breakfast: $1,501,079. This is the
same as the Governor's proposed budget - an
additional $19,264. Unfortunately this is not enough
to require all severe need schools to participate in
the School Breakfast Program without revenue loss to
other districts.
WIC Program Fresh Produce for
Seniors : $88,267. This is the same as the
Governor's proposed budget and a decrease from the
previous years.
WIC Program Fresh Produce :
$84,090. This is the same as the Governor's proposed
budget and a decrease from the previous years.
Economic Security:
Connecticut's minimum wage will rise to $7.40 an hour
in January of 2006 and to $7.65 an hour in January of
2007, making it the highest in the country. But a
Connecticut worker with a full-time job at $7.40 an
hour will still earn less than the federal poverty level
for a family of three.
Taxes:
Connecticut re-established an estate tax on estates
over $2 million. This will ensure over $150 million a
year in tax revenue that would otherwise have been
lost as a result of changes to the federal estate tax.
Some steps were taken to identify the impact of
business tax credits on state revenue through the
creation of a legislative Business Tax Credit and Tax
Policy Review Committee. The Committee has the
power to collect information from the Commissioner of
Revenue Services on business tax exemptions and
credits and their impact on taxes paid by
corporations. The Commission is to issue a report by
January 1, 2006.
Click here for a link to the
complete Biennial Budget.
As School Ends, Summer Food Gets Going
Summer Food sites around the state are gearing up
to start in the next week. This year over thirty
sponsors, from school systems to churches, are
running the program. In many sites throughout the
state all kids, ages 18 and under, can get a free
meal. Infoline 2-1-1 compiles detailed information
about every summer food site in the state.
Individuals interested in finding the closest site and
meal times should call 2-1-1.
This summer End Hunger CT! is airing a Public Service
Announcement on the radio and T.V. about the
Summer Food Program. Lunch Munch the robot is
helping kids find summer food sites in their
neighborhood. Look and listen for Lunch Munch
throughout the summer.
In addition the Food Research and Action Center
released its annual evaluation of the Summer Food
program last week. Connecticut ranks ninth best in
the nation in the number of kids that participate in
the Summer Food Program. For the entire report, click here.
For more information on Summer Food call End Hunger
CT! at (860) 560-2100 and check out the following
links: