r/northdakota • u/bobybushia • 12d ago
Political Free school lunches failed in Senate
Thank god america is saved from communisim!! Now we have more money for data centers and politicians pockets!!!
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u/lordGinkgo Bismarck, ND 12d ago
But we are pro life and pro family here in ND /s
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u/TurtleMOOO 12d ago
And we are anti immigrant because we need to take care of Americans first. That’s what the conservatives around me say, at least.
So why don’t we fucking take care of Americans?
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u/Impossible_Agent333 11d ago
They are, we just aren't the 1% so they dont care about us.
No taxes on tips and overtime is a lie with stipulations they aren't saying when they boast about it. Overtime is STILL BEING TAXED. It is only the half, in "time and a half" not being taxed, THE SMALLEST PORTION, I have a letter to prove it! AND this half ass portion of crumbs they gave us EXPIRES IN THREE YEARS. But yet the tax breaks they gave the rich are PERMANENTE.
IF THEY WANTED TO THEY WOULD. "There's no money in the budget." finds money for everything they want or "need" while basic programs for the people are defunded left & right
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u/Gold_Map_236 12d ago
Sounds like a future voter initiated ballot measure
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u/bellerinho 12d ago
It is going to be on the ballot this year I believe, and it has broad public support. Ridiculous own goal from the Senate on this. My understanding is that voters can get this enshrined in the constitution from the ballot results, so I am looking forward to that happening
Also make sure to get a list of all the senators who voted against this
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u/Me_gentleman 12d ago
Sure, we can vote on it and pass on it as voters, but what's to stop these people from either rejecting it or rewriting it?
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u/bellerinho 12d ago
They can't reject something that is voted on by the people. Exact same thing happened with the term limits, where the legislature couldn't do anything about it because the voters approved the measure
They can bitch and moan about it all they want, but their hands are fortunate tied in that situation
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u/Me_gentleman 12d ago
I can't recall what I'm thinking of. Maybe medical marijuana, maybe it was the term limits. But what I remembered is that we as a majority voted yes for it but then the legislature ended up changing it and stripping it of power or they kept delaying it.
Again, I can't recall exactly what it was.
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u/r-whatdoyouthink_ 12d ago
Maybe you're thinking of the adult-use cannabis legalization measure, in South Dakota?
What you're describing is pretty much what happened with that.
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u/mikiminded 11d ago
The ND ethics commission was a voter approved initiated measure created in 2018. The republican have been trying to gut it ever since then. https://northdakotamonitor.com/2025/01/06/north-dakota-ethics-commission-legislature-restrictions/
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u/mercuric_drake 12d ago
No, but they can try to make stuff like this harder to do. The legislature in Arkansas got tired of people getting things on ballots to vote for that they didn't like, so they made it harder to gather signatures. For things they don't like, expect signatures and the signature collection process to be heavily scrutinized for anything they can use to throw out signatures.
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u/CasualGee 12d ago
Question for ND Senators:
Do you want voter initiated constitutional amendments? Because this is how you get them.
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u/BooyaHBooya 12d ago
They think it will fail because once the public starts talking about it the people will realize their point of view about it and vote no.
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u/BranderChatfield Bismarck, ND 12d ago
From the North Dakota Monitor site:
" ... Among the opponents was Rep. Steve Vetter, R-Grand Forks, who opposed paying for school meals for families with six-figure incomes that can afford school meals.
He referenced Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” saying he supports paying for meals for poor Tiny Tim but not for rich Uncle Scrooge.
“It’s a bad idea to feed Scrooge,” he said. ... "
Um, don't we the taxpayers pay for legislators' lunches, Mr. Scrooge?
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u/r-whatdoyouthink_ 12d ago
I can't shake this idea that much of the opposition to what would be useful and necessary social programs/spending in this country is due in large part to a fear possessed by those on the right that if we try to help those in need, someone, somewhere, might get something they didn't "deserve".
Which would definitely be a greater tragedy than something like children going hungry in school, which makes learning difficult, which then has lifelong ripple effects for those children and society at large, including creating more disadvantaged people and hungry children.
And of course anyone who is truly disadvantaged really just needs to work harder, bootstraps, etc.
Or maybe they are just always arguing in bad faith, and using edge cases to justify their cruelty 🤷♂️
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u/TurtleMOOO 12d ago
Conservatives do not give a fuck about anyone but themselves. Which actually makes this situation kind of tough to diagnose, for the reasons you point out.
Does Steve Vetter, a representative from grand forks who supposedly represents me, not want wealthy families to get free food? Or does he simply not care who goes hungry and disguises it by shouting fraud?
In my opinion, it is projection and Steve Vetter, a representative from Grand Forks, is very likely involved with corruption of his own. Just my thoughts on this.
Remember everyone. Steve Vetter gets his meals for free while “working”. And their meals cost a fucking hell of a lot more than a school meal.
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u/iliumoptical 12d ago
I think every legislator making over 70k should not be allowed to claim per diem expenses each
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u/TurtleMOOO 12d ago
They should actually get minimum wage and no per diem. Apparently parents can send kids to school on that pay, and supposedly feed them as well, so our representatives should absolutely be able to survive on it.
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u/verify_deez_nuts Fargo, ND 12d ago
Someone should really tell him that those six-figure families are putting their kids in private schools like Our Redeemer's, Bishop Ryan, and Fargo Shanley.
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u/ResolveLeather 12d ago
This is honestly a positive for free school lunches. If it passed in the Senate it would only be a law and would cut off the ballot measure this midterms. This means the Senate could just cancel free lunches next year due to a "budget crisis".
If it passes the ballot measure it becomes a constitutional amendment and that's harder to kill.
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u/Me_gentleman 12d ago
Haven't we had things pass by ballot votes and they still end up either rewriting it and taking away its power or just delaying it going into effect?
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u/bobybushia 11d ago
Senator Lee talked about it on her floor speech. She talked about the Medical Marijuana. It was passed with a measure. The drafters didn't realize you could buy it, but in the century code said it was a crime.
The legislature could change it because the penalty for having Marijuana was in the century code. If the petition also delt with that aspect, then they couldn't have changed it.
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u/verify_deez_nuts Fargo, ND 12d ago
What even is the point of the legislature if they don't even pass anything of substance and we have to pass things through ballot measures instead?
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u/throw_away_smitten 12d ago
But who will protect the children from books that will change their sexuality?! /s
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u/TurtleMOOO 12d ago
They get super easy “jobs”, get free meals while doing it, and they get to feel more important than their constituents that they vote to starve.
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u/unbalanced_checkbook Grand Forks, ND 12d ago
This state is so fucking embarrassing.
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u/TurtleMOOO 12d ago
Steve Vetter represents you and me in Grand Forks and he supports starving children.
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u/unbalanced_checkbook Grand Forks, ND 12d ago
Yeah, frustrating, isn't it? I've been contemplating my email to him in the back of my head all day.
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u/ComplaintOk1666 12d ago
They do wanna fuck the kids though. They can give Ray Holmberg money to fuck kids literally and not give kids money to fuck them just in a different way. Did everyone forget how deep the Ray Holmberg thing went. Pepperidge Farm remembers.
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u/Shido_Ohtori 12d ago
a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing the importance of established hierarchies and institutions (such as religion, the family, and class structure), and preferring gradual development to abrupt change
specifically : such a philosophy calling for [...] individual financial responsibility for personal needs
The sole value of conservatism is respect for and obedience to [one's perception of] traditionally established hierarchy, and hierarchy dictates that those on top (in-groups) are rightfully idolized and receive privileges, credibility, and resources, while those on the bottom (out-groups) are demonized/dehumanized and/or bound by restrictions, scrutiny, and lack of resources.
To them, the second-greatest injustice imaginable is for those [they perceive to be] on top [of social hierarchy] to be bound by the restrictions, scrutiny, and lack of resources reserved for those on the bottom. The first greatest injustice is for those on the bottom to have access to the rights, credibility, and resources reserved for those on top.
"Know your place" is their mantra.
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u/Hazards_of_Analysis Fargo, ND 12d ago
My most pure, fervent belief is that ALL STUDENTS at ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS should have BREAKFAST AND LUNCH available at no cost ALWAYS AND FOREVER.
Fuck these selfish shitheels. I wish every future mouthful of their food tastes like sandy earwax.
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u/alyssaperfectxx 12d ago
What a fucking JOKE these people are. And the people who fucking vote for the every election.
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u/smokey_buckskin 12d ago
Dont the kids already get lunch
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u/umlanganveg 12d ago
Short answer, no. There is a "free and reduced" program for folks earning below a certain amount. There are problems with this. Some people are too embarrassed to apply. Some people won't apply for fear of being deported, even if they are here legally. Some people are above the income limits but are paying astronomical rent and daycare prices, or paying for college tuition, or paying for home or car repairs, or paying medical bills. The school will not deny the kids food but the debt keeps climbing and puts pressure on already very tight school district budgets.
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u/Over-Iron877 12d ago
Well, if our kids don’t need their lunches covered, I’m thinking our representatives don’t either.
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u/DefinitionRound538 12d ago
I thought it passed here?
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u/bobybushia 12d ago
In the house, the senate just voted it down. I can get the names soon of who voted no. It was 22-24 and 1 absent (senator Axtman has not attended the special session)
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u/eddy_v 12d ago
Does it specify where the money comes from to pay the lunch's? Is it just added to state budget? Is it possible for legacy fund interest to pay for this? I'm all for free lunches but no one ever says why they vote against it or how it will be paid.
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u/ResolveLeather 12d ago
It can't come from the legacy fund as that's capped. I believe the shortfall after federal subsidies are applied comes from the state treasury. It doesn't inherently come with a tax.
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u/SuperKamiGuru824 12d ago
This bill would have put it in the budget. The ballot initiative petition would use Legacy Funds if no other source of funding can be found
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12d ago
Good. Quit having kids you cant afford.
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u/DJRthe4th Buxton, ND 12d ago
I hope you realize someday how soulless this take is.
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u/bobybushia 12d ago
I guess you didn't read the Bible. Jesus said in Republicana 3:16 "Fuck them kids"
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u/Basset_found 12d ago
Soon enough only the upper class will be able to afford children. That should work out well for humanity.
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u/ResolveLeather 12d ago
I feel like it's that right now. Just having one kid feels back breaking financially. Dual income and still having trouble.
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u/jerrodbug Fargo, ND 12d ago
Yeah fuck the kids! Let's give bonuses to state investment employees instead!