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Laura Belin's avatar

I'm convinced this tactic doesn't work nearly as well in the social media age. As you probably saw, news of the Iowa governor's decision to deny food assistance to needy families went viral on many platforms.

Even in the time I've been writing about Iowa politics (just under 17 years), I've noticed that these slow news weekends are not as slow as they used to be. On the contrary: sometimes a story published right before a holiday weekend can actually do better, because there is less competing political news to take up people's attention. I think that dynamic explains why so many people (even some national websites) picked up the story about Kim Reynolds and food assistance last weekend.

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Julie Biddle's avatar

$40 per month amounts to $1 for each breakfast or lunch students miss when school is not in session.

First Kim claims she is rejecting the funds because it is not a long term solution. So just what is her solution? Couldn't she accept the funds while she works on a long term plan? Reminds me of Trump and his "I will have a beautiful health care reform in just 2 weeks. "

Then she said she rejected funding because of childhood obesity. So- $2 more per day will make kids fat??

She touts parents' rights and that they know what is best for their children, but somehow does not trust parents to spend that $2 a day more responsibly.

She also said local groups are better set up to handle hunger issues than the state is. Open your eyes, Kim! Iowa is full of small, rural towns -37% of our population! Rural area often have no food banks, and no churches large enough to fund/operate such a program.

She is despicable.

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