Sequester could cut state's nutrition program for kids
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PUYALLUP, Wash. -- The looming sequestration and the resulting cuts will leave tens of thousands of children in Washington state at risk of losing their link to nutrition.
Millions of dollars that pay for the Women, Infants, and Children program -- or WIC -- will be lost. The program provides vouchers for milk, cereal, peanut butter, infant formula and fresh produce.
Kyra Salazar and her children, Sophia and Elija stand to lose if the cuts take effect. They are just three of the more than 26,000 Pierce County residents who receive services from the federal nutritional program.
If the sequester is not avoided, Washington state could lose $7.5 million in WIC funding. And tens of thousands of children in the state could lose their benefits since the program is considered discretionary.
"I don't think it's discretionary; I think we need to be there to help as many as we can," said Tiffany Eriksen, who supervises five clinics in Pierce County.
Eriksen says without WIC, more children may face serious health repercussions.
"Potentially it could lead to chronic childhood anemia," she said.
Salazar says she's irked by the possibility that this vital link to her children's health could disappear.
"They obviously don't have our point of view," she said. "They need to step down and look at real people, because it's needed."
Salazar says the program gives more than just food vouchers. WIC is where she learned that juice is full of sugar and calories -- a tool that's helping her keep Sophia's weight in check.
"It's not about let's get you in and let's get you out. It's knowledge, power," she said.
The total WIC benefit equals about $50 per client per month.
Millions of dollars that pay for the Women, Infants, and Children program -- or WIC -- will be lost. The program provides vouchers for milk, cereal, peanut butter, infant formula and fresh produce.
Kyra Salazar and her children, Sophia and Elija stand to lose if the cuts take effect. They are just three of the more than 26,000 Pierce County residents who receive services from the federal nutritional program.
If the sequester is not avoided, Washington state could lose $7.5 million in WIC funding. And tens of thousands of children in the state could lose their benefits since the program is considered discretionary.
"I don't think it's discretionary; I think we need to be there to help as many as we can," said Tiffany Eriksen, who supervises five clinics in Pierce County.
Eriksen says without WIC, more children may face serious health repercussions.
"Potentially it could lead to chronic childhood anemia," she said.
Salazar says she's irked by the possibility that this vital link to her children's health could disappear.
"They obviously don't have our point of view," she said. "They need to step down and look at real people, because it's needed."
Salazar says the program gives more than just food vouchers. WIC is where she learned that juice is full of sugar and calories -- a tool that's helping her keep Sophia's weight in check.
"It's not about let's get you in and let's get you out. It's knowledge, power," she said.
The total WIC benefit equals about $50 per client per month.
I saw on the news last night, an interview with a single Mom of 5 who had part time jobs to support the family. She appeared clean, professional and so was her home and her kids. She was saying that without WIC, she couldn't feed her kids. Okay, so she's trying to be a good Mom, but I'd ask her why she has FIVE kids in the first place. One could be an accident, TWO maybe because of a failed marriage or relationship, but FIVE?   How about using birth control when you live in this century?
those kids do not look pretty healthy and large ... seems to me like the mother should stop with the sugar and stop having babies she needs help to pay for....
Yeah keep that government overspending going... we have to have the extra money to fund programs to feed children of irresponsible parents to make sure they live to pay the future debts our present day leaders are imposing on them!
This sequestration cuts absolutely nothing!!!!! Spending continues to increase by trillions. There is no cut!!!! All this drama is nothing more than Kibuki Theater folks. Take a look at this chart that takes it's numbers from the Congressional Budget Office. http://mercatus.org/publication/federal-spending-without-sequester-cuts
I think WIC is needed and is helpful. However if youâre on WIC and just popping out more children I think it needs to be cut off. Same thing with welfare. Either use a condom, morning after pill, abstain, adoption, or abortion if thatâs your thing. But stop having kids if you cannot afford them. Only exception I can see is if a family has jobs and they are lost it should be allowed for a period of time again. The programs are supposed to be there to support when needed. Not always take care of.
@DreamTravlerAre you going to force them to stop? How?Â
@NW-Economist @DreamTravler I dont think there is a way to force anyone to stop. However to claim the benefits dont you have to prove who they are for? Once someone claims it once they should be told any additional kids and the funds will be dropped. I have never applied for state assistance so I do not know what it takes to obtain it.
Big question to all the WIC supporters on here, do you think people on WIC should be allowed to stay on WIC if they keep having more kids after they've already started taking public assistance?Â
The parts that's truly amazing is that there are a lot of people who are quick to sign up for all the free government assistance BUT hardly any of these people who have kids are taking advantage of the free birth control our government offers as well!!Â
How about a headline that says...
"Sequester forces politicians to cut government inefficiency"
It's too bad about WIC though, that's one government handout I can get behind.
Politicians and professional bureaucrats purposely make spending reductions as painful as possible for the taxpayers as punishment for questioning their divine governmental powers. Embedded bureaucratic systems and political pet programs must be protected while actual services get cut. It's a control thing.
To all blasting the kids in the picture / saying "back in my day"...
I am conservative. I generally hate new taxes for stuff we don't need and am all for finding efficiency / firing those who cannot. That said, WIC is generally accepted as an example of a federal program that works. The maximum income level for a family of three on WIC is 32560 (you can look this up). There are 2920 hours assuming 8 hours a day times 365 days. This means a person needs a salary of 11.15 an hour, and to work 72 hours a week, 8 hours every day. Any less and they qualify. Please don't argue that "back in the day" you could make it on this. You cannot do so in the modern day. There are plenty of programs out there that could be cut, WIC is one that should be sustained. The benefits of the program are also shown to be measurable, which is nothing short of a miracle with our government.
To those attacking the little girl in the picture, remember that WIC pays for the cheapest food (you can't get premium brands, etc). A box of mac and cheese fills the kids but has little nutrients, but is far cheaper than fruit. This could be solved by moving some of the farming subsidies away from meat / corn production and putting it toward fruit and vegetable production.
Before anyone asks I donate my time, money, used items, and food to charity and work and pay taxes.
@IQhiker  While I see the need and have compassion, the question I have is why is this a FEDERAL government program? In order to properly manage a program like this, it should be handled at as local a level as possible in order to prevent fraud and waste. This should be handled at the state level which would necessitate a reduction in Federal taxes and an increase in state taxes. This is just one area where Federal control should be ended and local control taken.
@IQhiker I was talking to someone who got WIC recently and was very surprised at the changes in the last 13 years (I got WIC for my daughter when she was born until the age of 2)- I'm not sure of all the details but I remember wic giving pregnant and nursing moms and children over the age of 1 things like milk, cheese, peanut butter or beans, cereal and certain juices- now they give all that and fruit, tofu, eggs, soy milk/juice, and baby foods, etc. WIC is something people use and need- I really hope they don't cut the funding.Â
@MomOf2 @IQhiker I agree with you to an extent but then there are people like one of my neighbors who is an 18 year old hs drop out pregnant with her 2nd child with some gang member babby daddy. I wish her the best but unfortunately I see situations like this over and over on a daily basis. There is a good chance she will get older and bring several more innocent kids into this life and depend on our system to help provide for these kids.
Next will be teachers then cops on down the usal the end is coming trail. If you have kids you pay for them.
Here's a tip, if you can't afford to feed your kids, then STOP HAVING THEM.Â
I wish we could see articles on a regular basis detailing what is going to happen to our country if they do NOT cut spending.
âIf the sequester is not avoided, Washington state could lose $7.5 million in WIC funding.â Of that $7.5 million, $3.53 million would be borrowed money. An additional debt that will be on the backs of these children. As a county, we are spending ourselves to oblivion and we must stop spending borrowed money.
Shouldn't your pediatrician or child's dentist be able to give you the same nutritional advice with a medical exam and experience to back it up with? Â I am not knocking the WIC program but there comes a time when everyone has to hold the same responsibility when being parents. Â
@keri555Â Most medical schools don't require nutrition classes. I think it's a very responsible thing to realize that you are in a bad situation and ask for help with it. As long as you are willing to match that help with a commitment to bettering yourself.
Having worked in social work I can assure anyone who is worried about kids in Washington that there is an abundance of help available for single moms and their children. Â They have more resources available to them than any other demographic.
Underweight, anemic children on welfare won't be a big problem in the US any time soon.
This is a pathetic scare tactic and KOMO should do better than this. Â
If this upsets you then ask why Obama refused any ability to influence where the cuts should be made. Obama threatened to veto any bill allowing him greater control over where the budget is cut. So funds for children and critical national security will be cut (as well as releasing criminals from jail) while consultants, green graft, and local pork is protected.
Again, it is almost as if Obama intentionally is throwing these children under the bus for political advantage.
@IconoclastThey don't need phones, they don't need computers, they don't need cars, they don't need FlatScreens, they don't need Dish/Cable, they don't need latest stylish clothes, they don't need pets, they don't need pizza delivery..............
I have read the comments now here is miine. You are a group of narrow minded bigots. In this case against 2 adorable children. Do the math. The state minumum wage is $9.19 per hour. If the Mom in this picture works full time she will gross about $1600 per month. Take off employment taxes and now she will net about $1400. Rent for 2 bedroom apartment is about $900. Daycare for two kids would be about $1000 per month. She is already in the hole and we havent added food, utilities, clothes. We don't know why she is a single Mom. But to stand in judgement of her and to basically call her kids fat is wrong. I have been so down financially in the past and let me tell you there is noting worse that wanting to feed your kids healthy foods but all you can afford is boxed mac and cheese. My Mom used to tell me to walk a mile in someone elses shoes before you judge them.
@taxproÂ
Yes I'm a bigot because I didn't grow up in a hand-out society. Or maybe it's the fault of my parents for being working class, feeding us daily, and providing for our needs without the help of taxpayers. That's the way I grew up and I wouldn't change it for anything.You must think that anyone who thinks people should be self sufficient and responsible, and is against living handout to handout is being a bigot. I don't care why she is a single mom. Plenty of couples do the same. They rely on the taxpayer to survive. Boxed mac and cheese? I eat it all the time. You call yourself a tax pro? As well you should.
@taxpro Speaking of doing the math, where do you think this money is coming from? Do you realize our government does not have the money they are spending? They borrow it, at interest, and print it, causing inflation, which causes your money to be worth less and so is the same as a pay cut or extra tax. They cannot raise taxes enough to cover these bills, there isn't enough money to cover them.
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@tkyed @taxpro OK what about the mother who was married, and she and her husband decided she would be a stay at home mom when the kids came- fast forward 5 years and 2 kids and sudddenly husband is killed in a car accident- now mom has to find a job after being out of the work force for 5 years, if mom didn't get a college degree there is a good chance all she will find is a minimum wage job- heck even if she does have a college degree there aren't a lot of jobs to be had right now.
@MomOf2 @tkyed @taxpro I'm sorry but the sceanrio you are describing is a bit extreme and not that common. I never said that receiving WIC is wrong just as long as it is temporary. I am a single mom without a college degree and I make well over minimum wage. I understand it is no easy since I was on welfare myself but nothing in life is. All i am trying to do is point out the abuse that is out there when it comes to our government programs.
@taxpro In case you are not aware if you are a single mother of 2 and only get paid minum wage you qualify for daycare assistance, cash benenfits and food benefits.
Wonder how long she's been on the program? I think there should be a limit so she learns to be independent instead of dependent. Where's the father to help with this?
Read some of the comments below... you'll see... Conservatives don't care if the feeding programs fail. In their own words... they don't care
@TruthinAdverts When you are out of money, how do you keep spending it? There will always be needy people. When do you stop spending? When the whole country collapses?Â
When you are out of money, TruthinAdverts, do you keep writing checks and using the credit card, regardless? Is your balance so high you cannot even make the interest payments anymore and you have to borrow from others, at interest, for that? If you finally decide you need to make a cut in your spending, do you cut food first and keep shopping lavishly for frills? Do you not worry about it, figuring your kids will figure it out someday? Do you throw a fit every time you have to cut 5 cents from your spending, and insist it will be the end of the world? If so, you're doing just what our government is doing.
Don't care, indeed. Who really cares about the future of this country?
@Willow @TruthinAdverts There's plenty of money in our economy willow... And a small %% have the majority of it. Now if you want to argue that this small %% isn't interested in letting it trickle down to the "lower" classes either in adequate wages or programs, I'd say you have a point. The future of this country huh?  Now before you fire off all half-calked again... really consider where a majority of this nation's wealth truly is... Hint... It's not with you or I..
just for the record... I'm under no delusion I'm changing any of your minds with my posts. You're set. You aren't changing your mind. Here's a clue... a vast majority of you vote precisely like your parents did. You've been predisposed to do so. I get that. Heck... I vote how my parents did as well... I'm just lucky my parents were right. As far as changing the minds of people anxious enough to scroll all the way down the page to the forum (most readers never even see this), I appreciate it's a waste of time. We've all made up our minds down here. As for my comments... I'm just having fun with you. Plain and simple = )
@TruthinAdverts There are still charities. How much of your yearly income do you donate?
@Iconoclast @TruthinAdverts I file that under nunyabizness. I mean... I imagine you'd appreciate having my home address, hot wife's photo and bank account numbers... but you aint getting those either there internet warrior.Â
@Iconoclast @TruthinAdverts Your "zero" would be incorrect, but when has being incorrect on here ever stopped you before eh?
@TruthinAdverts So that would be zero. Got it. Most libs prefer to donate other people's money in the form of tax transfers--a real trickle down approach.
and there goes truth again...lying.
Again, tell us how many pet programs and projects will survive, while the threat of cutting food from the mouths of babes ends up being a conservatives don't care issue! In reality, conservatives donate more to food banks and charities in general, so get over yourself! It's a manufactured crisis, using the youngest in America to push their agenda!
@takncarabizniz lying? Strong words there internet patriot! Darth Vader likes them though... so you have that going for you
@TruthinAdverts You know what you're free to give to her and help her. Maybe have her stay in your house until she gets back on her feet.
@justsayin @TruthinAdverts Just openly admit you don't really care... then the next step is easy
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@taxpro @Mumblix Grumph
Yes you can.
Yes you can taxpro...you can even eat at McDonalds every day if you like, in some states. And WA state is increasing the number of businesses that accept EBT cards as well.
@taxpro @Mumblix Grumph Oh yes you can I bought it myself when I temporarily received them.
@Mumblix Grumph
Follow the money, who REALLY benefits from Food Stamps in the end. The ignorant believe the program feeds you.the stamps (EBT card now) are a supplement, most recipients won't get enough to provide all their food.
If you eliminated all food stamps you hurt the big corporate brands and grocery store chains, they get that money in the end. Follow the money as the biggest transfer of wealth in world history continues.
Food stamps are not about the people, and only about 6% of recipients are what people think are free loaders. The other 94% are in order, children, disabled on SSI, and the retired who only have SS as an income source. 41% of Food Stamp recipients work.
Consider this, Wal-Mart supports an increase in the federal minimum wage (do a search). Now why would a company with an army of minimum wage workers support a legally mandated increase in wages, they could just do it for their employees. Well, just follow the money, who would benefit the most from the wage increase?
We're all getting played - at the end of the day there is no, ehem, "welfare," it is all corporate welfare.
Why do you think the banks, which rob the average retirement investor of 33% of their gains in a 401K plan in hidden fees wants to get their hands on the 12.4% that goes into Social Security for each working slob (remember your employer matches). Follow the money.
The United States of America is dead. We are the United Corporations of the World - who are sitting on the largest piles of cash in global history.
Don't breed 'em if you can't feed 'em! There are very few REAL accidental babies. Sure, there is illness, abandonment, and just plain irresponsible mates, but that's when one shouldn't let their gonads do the talking. Think responsibly and know the possible consequences of your actions.Â
It's not the children's fault, it's the parent (s). And, it's not the taxpayers' fault either.
@Yadayada The craziest part of it all is that WA pays for birth control to anyone who is considered low income. All you have to do is walk into any Planned Parenthood and they will offer you a range of different types of birth controls available at no cost!!!
@Yadayada That is why birth insurance is readily available. Birth insurance is birth control. You do not buy any insurance because you expect an accident you by it to prevent the consequences of an accident.
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@Maynard G Krebbs
You don't nderstand how food stamps works at all.
@Howard Beale @Maynard G Krebbs  Thankfully, I have never needed food stamps for me or my family. I do have family members (my wifes brother, nephew, etc) who are on assistance and I can tell you that in addition to WIC, EBT, etc, they also "borrow" (no intent to repay) from the family so their kids have food, diapers, etc and then they use those funds to buy beer, cigarettes and pot. Instead of giving them money, I provide food, diapers and shoes but that only means that they use other funds to buy the stuff I wont.