Meals on Wheels (not being eliminated) - What the Conservatives are Saying.

[qwlauren35]

I have always felt that it is wise to know what the "other side" is saying, so that, if necessary, it can be refuted, and if it's true, so that we can be aware, and not waste time and resources defending it.

With that said, my sister posted a link on Facebook to a site that is probably right-wing. It is peppered with comments that are anti-Democrat. HOWEVER, the claims of cronyism, waste and fraud bear scrutiny. I'm not sure you can make this stuff up. So what is true, and what is false? Is Meals on Wheels a federal program? Or funded by states through block grants? And sometimes subject to fraud? Is the federal government only funding 3% of it? Would cutting Meals on Wheels kill it? Is cutting the funding just a red herring to wave in front of Democrats to divert from real issues, like cuts to the EPA or nomination of a conservative Supreme Court judge? Or investigation of election-tampering?

I wonder.

http://www.independentsentinel.com/truth-about-meals-on-wheels/ il

Update - I still wonder about the story, but I found an article in Snopes.com giving some clarification to the sensationalism of the OccupyDemocrats.com headline that Meals on Wheels is being eliminated.

http://www.snopes.com/trump-meals-on-wheels/

[CurtEastPoint]

1. Whatever rag this is, discount it. They have an article about a 'baby chop shop.' Tells me...

all I need to know about that crap.

That being said, I do now know the answers to the questions you posed.

[gratuitous]

2. The holy trinity of conservative criticism

Waste, fraud and abuse. Applicable to everything except the defense department, Medicare (because the people who abuse that system are the doctors and big medical centers), and the tax code as applied to the wealthy. These are people who go nuts if someone "scams" an extra $5 in monthly benefits, but the F-35? Shrug.

[qwlauren35]

9. Perhaps...

I am a newbie and got suckered.

You are absolutely right that the "waste, fraud and abuse" in the military-industrial-complex is frightening. And I don't see the Democrats or Republicans making any dents in that area. I think Libertarians would.

There isn't even significant whistle-blowing in this area. It doesn't make the news. That's how rampant it is, and how completely both sides turn a blind eye.

The funny thing about the "waste, fraud and abuse" of the military is that eliminating it would probably eliminate jobs. You can't easily cut off over-inflated salaries. Those who get them will die defending them. But middle management - that gets cut. And engineers - they get cut. Manufacturing - sent overseas.

The only thing I wish about the military is that all activities were forced to stay in the US. I don't think we can fight for any more than that.

[Demsrule86]

3. Why are you spreading Republican propaganda on DU?

Meals on wheels is not corrupt...

[qwlauren35]

5. Implies but does not Say.

The article does not say the Meals on Wheels is corrupt. It says that the block grants that partially fund Meals on Wheels are occasionally diverted to fraudulent projects.

The Snopes article gives a more unbiased perspective. Both the liberal and conservative sites are sensationalizing the issue. More funding for Meals on Wheels comes from the Older Americans Act than from the HUD Block Grant.

http://www.snopes.com/trump-meals-on-wheels/

As I said, if you don't read both sides, you don't have balance. Not everything is black and white. Not everything conservatives say is a lie. Not everything that liberals say is true.

It's like the way we're not supposed to talk about Democrats who didn't vote, or voters who were seduced by Trump's promise of jobs, but we're only supposed to talk about gerrymandering, voter suppression, Russia, the popular vote figures and "deplorables". Both play a part in what happened.

[uppityperson]

4. 35% of their funding is federal. Here's info and artickes

http://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org
http://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/national/press-room/2017/03/16/statement-clarifying-federal-funding-to-meals-on-wheels

STATEMENT CLARIFYING FEDERAL FUNDING TO MEALS ON WHEELS
Mar 16, 2017
Updated March 19, 2017

In response to confusion around federal funding received by Meals on Wheels:

Meals on Wheels services are provided directly to seniors by a nationwide network of 5,000 local community-run programs that, in the aggregate, receive 35% of their funding from the federal government.

Some media outlets have incorrectly reported this number to be 3%, confusing it with the federal funding received by Meals on Wheels America, the national membership organization that does not provide direct services (e.g., meals). This miscommunication dramatically understates the significant impact of any federal budget cuts that may affect Meals on Wheels.

What we know about the budget so far:

The 35% federal funding that goes directly to local Meals on Wheels programs comes from the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program that falls under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The impact on these funds has not yet been announced but, given the proposed 17.9% cut prescribed for HHS, could be at risk.

Also announced is the proposed elimination of two block grant programs (Community Services Block Grant and Community Development Block Grant) that are available for states to direct, at their discretion, to a large number of community programs which for some states includes augmented funding for Meals on Wheels. The fate of a third block grant program that also provides discretionary money for states to use for nutrition services (Social Services Block Grant) falls under HHS, but details have not yet been announced.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/18/meal-on-wheels-trump-budget-proposal-cuts/99308928/

[qwlauren35]

7. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This lines up with what I read in Snopes, but gives more clarification about the two separate entities.

[still_one]

11. Thanks uppity. The Hill was one of the outlets that misreported the 3% figure

The trump administration has also intentionally talked out of both sides of their mouth about this. One thing for certain, the trump administration will be cutting HHS budget, and officials at Meals on Wheels anticipates the cuts will impact its funding

[AgadorSparticus]

6. If Republicans take away M.O.W. they will never live that down.

[iamateacher]

8. I am on the Board of my local Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels has no national umbrella organization. They are locally run. My particular MOW does not take state or federal money. We get donations from our mostly middle class community. The MOWs in the town next to us does get $$$ from the state, they are a poor community. Meals on Wheels gets most of their money from aging programs in Health and Human Services. They get a smaller amount from the block grant spoken about at the press conference. Of course health and human services has been cut also...
The answer to your question is this. The federal and state money goes to the MOWs that are in poorer communities. Yes, it could close these programs because they don't have communities that can make up for losses.
Now, fraud? You make or buy one hot meal, one cold and deliver it 5 days a week with volunteers. For $25 a week. What fraud could possibly exist? People who can't afford even that small amount get subsidized.
These repubs are as low as you can get. I hope they rot in hell. Or maybe they get old, lose all their money, live in a freezing apartment, eat cat food, and lose their health insurance.

[qwlauren35]

10. Perhaps...

what needs to be fought is cuts to the Older Americans Act with HHS.

Carson has HUD and I have no hope that he'd have the cahones to stand up for his department.

[still_one]

12. and trump's budget cuts include HHS, and representatives from MOW anticipates

they will be impacted, which is what you are saying

[iamateacher]

13. Yes!

They know one way or another, funding is cut for MOW in poor communities.