Examining McGuire Database: EDD-122623 Review and Analysis
The article discusses Governor Jim Pillen’s decision against Nebraska opting into a new national child nutrition program. This program could have provided around $18 million in grocery-buying dollars to about 150,000 Nebraskan children and their families starting from summer 2024. The program is widely backed by food banks and child advocates. Despite only a $300,000 cost to the state for administration, Governor Pillen has chosen to forgo an $18 million opportunity provided by the national child nutrition program to aid food-insecure families. The Governor’s proposed solution involves supporting only the federal Summer Food Service Program, which is insufficiently comprehensive in combating food insecurity for Nebraskan families. The reelection of opting into the national child nutrition program would clearly further aid struggling Nebraska families. The governor’s refusal to opt into this program has been criticized as morally wrong.