More than a fourth of the 28 million children who eat free or discounted school lunches might be ineligible, and the Bush administration is considering rules to reserve the meal programs for children of families who prove their low incomes.
The number of children enrolled in the program nationwide exceeds the number in low-income families who would be eligible for it, based on a comparison of the school lunch enrollment figures with an annual survey by the Census Bureau, said Jean Daniel, an Agriculture Department spokeswoman.
Officials have calculated that as many as 27 percent of children now getting free or reduced-price meals are ineligible, she said.
Wash.Post.02.26
{it's hard in these dark times to think about much else besides the fragility of the body and the delicate ties of earthly living. at least for me. so I can relate to this. cheaters eating free lunches. my gods what next. but then try to imagine the actual real kids who are getting those free lunches. imagine you're a kid whose parents are so grasping and crafty they sign you up for a free lunch program when you don't 'deserve' it. what's the chances your home nutrition isn't quite up to current USDA standards? you know, like the dopehead family that takes their welfare money meant for little Anron's brown-bag and spends it on bongs and beer. so little Anron doesn't get his brown bag. so he gets a free school lunch. so he does better at school than if he was hungry and all. well, that means letting cheaters prosper. and little Anron's going to grow up and reproduce, passing that cheater gene packet on down the line. can't have that. no. that's messing with the sanctity of life.}
