THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 23, 1995 TAG: 9503230005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
The latest Democratic criticism is 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 N.C. 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.
The Republicans call 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 very clear message is that the governors can more closely monitor state school-meal programs and deliver better service.
The Republican block-grant program reduces ``growth'' without sacrifice. The reduction of all government programs is an objective of the new majority-party leaders who heard the voters' request for reduction of the federal government.
Radical proposals of the Contract With America have the ``free spenders'' panicked. Anything which reduces the federal bureaucracy will bring squealing and lies.
The real message of the new party in control is not the lie of stealing meals from the needy, but the truth of carrying out this program in a more-efficient manner at the state level with block grants.
DAN B. GRAY
Avon, N.C., March 9, 1995 by CNB