Williamson County, TN GOP chief blasts free & reduced price school breakfasts

[doeriver]

[link:http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120217/NEWS01/302170074/2288/NLETTER01/Williamson-GOP-chief-blasts-school-breakfasts|Williamson GOP chief blasts school breakfasts
Kookogey: Government has no place in cafeteria]



Williamson County, Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Kevin Kookogey

As more Williamson County schools begin to serve breakfast to students, the county’s Republican Party chairman, Kevin Kookogey, says it is not the role of the government to feed people.

School officials announced in January the goal to offer breakfast at all schools as a part of the National School Breakfast program, which reimburses the district through the U.S. Department of Agriculture for each meal served.

Whether students qualify for free and reduced prices for the meal or they pay full price, the district essentially receives money back from the government.

Kookogey took aim at schools providing students with breakfast via a letter posted on the county Republican Party website.

“I am sure you have heard about this happening in other areas, but ladies and gentlemen, Williamson County, one of the wealthiest counties in the nation by any measure, is now operating under a perverse incentive to increase the number of students taking government hand-outs,” Kookogey wrote. “Of course, those handouts are courtesy of you and me, the federal taxpayers.”...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. He is a bloviating blowhard...

Jeez.

A well-fed child learns better than one who is hungry.

[shraby]

2. Another miser who needs to be run down the road (preferably with tar and feathers).

[jberryhill]

3. Cuckoo guy? Is that really his name?

Like, how long did it take them to find a person actually named "Cuckoo guy" to be the county Republican chairman?

Whose the vice chair? Sam Headupmyass?

[bluestateguy]

4. If I had to bet

I'd assume that he attends some fundamentalist Southern Baptist megachurch, and thinks of himself as a fine Christian.

[juajen]

13. In that area, it is probably The Church of Christ. Pretty powerful up there.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. One of our GOP reps claims teachers are helping parents cheat on the free lunch application

And he claims there are districts here in this area where 100% of the kids are on free lunch.

We called the state education dept. There isn't one district in the state where 100% of the kids are on free lunch.

[Honeycombe8]

6. None of the schools I went to served breakfast, that I recall.

Is that a new thing?

Maybe in elementary school we got some milk or something. Heck, I don't think my Mom even gave us breakfast. Or maybe I just don't remember breakfasts?

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Yes we serve breakfast now

My school serves dinner also.

[hfojvt]

8. he apparently has a point

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamson_County,_Tennessee

"Williamson County is ranked among the wealthiest counties in the country. In 2006 it was the 11th wealthiest county in the country according to the U.S. Census Bureau, but the Council for Community and Economic Research ranked Williamson County as America's wealthiest county (1st) when the local cost of living was factored into the equation with median household income.[14] In 2010, Williamson County is listed 17th on the Forbes list of the 25 wealthiest counties in America. [15]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamson_County,_Tennessee

Is that really an area that needs help from the Federal Government?

Their poverty rate is 4.7%.

The poverty rate in Washington DC is about 23%.

[Lars39]

11. There is a great divide in that county...the very rich and those hanging on by a thread.

To even consider not helping the people there in poverty is cruel.

[hfojvt]

12. Do you know this county or are you speculating?

A 5% poverty rate would suggest the divide is not so great. Not like it is in Washington DC, which has one of the highest per capita incomes in the country. Per capita income in Williamson Co, Tn is only $42,786, in Washington DC, it is $71,044.

Point is, that the rich of Williamson County can help the poor of Williamson County, without needing DC as an intermediary, that perhaps Williamson County is not the best place for limited federal funds. Coals to Newcastle and all that.

[juajen]

14. Oh my word. Yes it is wealthy.

Williamson County is where the country music stars have their ranches. I've lived there. Lots of lower and middle income people, but it's county seat is Franklin. Tourism is big in Franklin. Some of you well versed in civil war history might remember "The Battle of Franklin". A downtown church still has a civil war mini ball sticking out of the bricks and there is a civil war cemetery there where about seven generals from the war, both sides, lost their lives and are buried The economic downturn has probably eaten into their tourist dollars, so it could be worse now, as I lived there in the seventies, but I certainly wouldn't say that it is wealthy, because a tremendous amount of the income can be accounted for by country music dollars and while some of them no doubt do contribute to the local economy, they are usually having parties, going to parties or heading off in their buses or planes to tour the country. They are seen, rarely on the streets of Franklin. Tourist dollars also add to that income. However, when I lived there, there was no real industry, unless it is the town itself. It is very beautiful and historic, well worth a visit. I loved living there and was sorry when we left for a job in another state. This town is just as worthy as any other for federal dollars to aid the poor.

[nanabugg]

9. It's not the government's place to starve children either. nt

[dionysus]

10. spoken like a true moron....

[Zalatix]

15. Ummm, the MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX might want a word with Kevin Kookoo

I'll give you fine folks 3 guesses as to who was actually responsible for the nation's first nationwide school lunch program but I only expect the average DUer to need only 1 guess.