Reynolds fan of parent choice, except when it comes to food

Gov. Kim Reynolds has been an outspoken proponent of parents’ choice in education. She believes parents should be able to choose which schools are best for their children. Thus all parents could eventually have control of the $7,635 the state of Iowa places in a student’s education savings account.

Fast forward to Reynolds’ decision to decline approximately $29 million in federal food aid for low- income families this coming summer. Reynolds’ HHS spokesperson Sarah Ekstrand stated, “a cash benefit card with very few limitations on purchases does not achieve direct access to healthy meals for school-age children.” So parents can’t be trusted to make wise choices regarding what foods they buy for their children? Parents need more regulations in order to make good choices?

Gov. Reynolds, your decision to decline that $29 million of food aid for low-income families flies in the face of your supposed support for parents’ rights. You are willing to let parents control $7,635 for school choice but not $40 per summer month per child for food? Do you just support parent rights when it fits with your conservative agenda? Please consider putting the needs of Iowa’s children over politics.

Betty Stiefel

Victor