THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503170224
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
The latest Democratic clamor at local, state and federal levels provides uncalled-for criticism of the proposed GOP Block Grant school program. Words such as ``cruel,'' ``heartless'' and ``mean-spirited'' are continuously applied.
These outbursts are completely refuted by information provided by our congressman from the 3rd District, Rep. Walter Jones Jr. In fact, under the Republican bill, the federal school lunch program will grow by 4.5 percent, or $203 million in the current budget year.
This procedure by the new minority party obviously has been difficult to counter. Such cute statements as ``stealing food from our children'' have become standard fare by Democrats distorting the truth. Obviously, all Americans focus their attention on our children. That is our trademark.
Let's look at the facts. The actual Republican proposal calls for spending of an average 4 percent more for the school lunch program for the five years beyond 1996. This fact, and the elimination of federal bureaucracy and paperwork, will enable the states to serve more free and subsidized meals.
The Republicans, for the most part, are in the process of carrying out the directions of the voters in the November 1994 elections.
There is no doubt that this program and many of the other radical proposals in the Contract for America have the ``free spenders'' panicked. Anything which reduces the federal bureaucracy will bring pronounced squealing and lies such as those fostered by the minority party.
In summary, the real message of the New Party in control is not the lie of stealing meals from the needy, but rather the truth of carrying out this program in a more efficient manner at the state level with ``Block Grants.''
Dan B. Gray
Chairman
Dare County Republican Party
Avon by CNB