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June 2005
 
 
End Hunger CT! Inc. E-Newsletter
School Nutrition Bill, the Budget and Summer Food


School Nutrition Bill
Vending Machine with note lobbying students inside it. 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:

phone: 860-560-2100

The summer is the perfect time to check out the Farmers' Markets throughout the state. Five farmers' markets, Laurel Street in Hartford and four City Farmers' markets in New Haven are accepting the EBT card (food stamps). Call EHC! for more information.

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