DAKOTANS ARE UPSET OVER LAWMAKERS’ CHOICES WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING MEALS

By Karolyn Moltzan

On March 27, North Dakota lawmakers voted against Bill 1491 which would have increased the number of children in the state who were eligible for free meals through their school lunch program. The bill had passed in the house before the senate voted it down in a vote of 23-24.

“It’s really the problem of parents being negligent with their kids, if their kids are choosing to eat in the first place,” argued ND Senator Mike Wobbema (R) during the debate.

Bill 1491 wasn’t intended to provide free school lunch to all children attending K-12 in North Dakota. Currently a federal program provides free lunches to children from families making up to 130% of the poverty level. Bill 1491 would have provided lunches for students who come from families that fell between 130% and 200% of the poverty level. For example, students coming from households with 4 children whose parents earned less than $60,000 per year would have qualified.

What seems to have most people upset about the situation, though, is that just days later many of the same ND Senate lawmakers voted to increase the per diem meal reimbursements for state employees traveling within the state from $35 to $45, largely argued justified due to inflation. That’s an increase of 29%, and a ben- efit that would be available to the senators who voted for it.

Meanwhile, the average school lunch in the US costs approximately $3. While that may not seem like much, all Americans are feeling the squeeze of inflation, including the hardworking parents of North Dakota.

The ND House has not given up on the idea, however, as they have attached the provision to a broader school funding bill. Senate Bill 2284 started as a school funding bill with a much more narrow focus, but this week the House added several pages of amendments, including expanding the free lunch program. Williston Representative Scott Dyk and several other committee members attempted to remove the lunch funding from the bill, but were unsuccessful.

Show - Friday April 14th 2:00-7:00pm

Saturday April 15th 9:00am-5:00pm at Raymond Family Community Center

Friday April 14th - “End of the Rope”

Red Carpet Premiere 7:00pm at Grand

Theater 211 South Main Street

Thursday April 20th - Entertainment,

Inc! Presents One Strange Night

7:00pm at the Old Armory Theater in Williston

Friday April 21st & 22nd - Wild West

Days Extreme Bull Riding 7:30pm at Raymond Family Community Center

TIOGA

April 14th-16th - Movie: Super Mario Bros Movie 7:00pm at Tioga Theater 15 1st St NE, Tioga, ND

Monday April 17th - Commission Meeting 7:00pm at City Hall - 16 1st St

NE, Tioga, ND

Tuesday April 18th - Park Board Meeting 6:00pm at Tioga Park Shop

Thursday April 20th - Tioga Historical Society Meeting 6:30pm at the Tioga Museum

Thursday April 20th - Airport Authority Meeting 7:00pm at 2237 Aviator Way Tioga, ND 58852

Tioga Community Center Schedule

Mondays: Yoga Flow 9:30am-10:30am

Wrestling practice 3pm-6:30pm

Tuesdays: Wrestling practice 3-6:30pm Pickleball 6pm-8pm

Wednesdays: Youth Group 6pm-9pm

Thursdays: Wrestling practice 3pm6:30pm

Slow Flow 6pm-7pm