Republican wants foster kids to be allowed to purchase clothing 2nd hand only

[Liberal_in_LA]

Foster children would be allowed to get clothing only from second hand stores

Under a new budget proposal from State Sen. Bruce Casswell, children in the state’s foster care system would be allowed to purchase clothing only in used clothing stores.

Casswell, a Republican representing Branch, Hillsdale, Lenawee and St. Joseph counties, made the proposal this week, reports Michigan Public Radio.

His explanation?

“I never had anything new,” Caswell says. “I got all the hand-me-downs. And my dad, he did a lot of shopping at the Salvation Army, and his comment was — and quite frankly it’s true — once you’re out of the store and you walk down the street, nobody knows where you bought your clothes.”

Under his plan, foster children would receive gift cards that could only be used at places like the Salvation Army, Goodwill and other second hand clothing stores.

The plan was knocked by the Michigan League for Human Services. Gilda Jacobs, executive director of the group, had this to say:

“Honestly, I was flabbergasted,” Jacobs says. “I really couldn’t believe this. Because I think, gosh, is this where we’ve gone in this state? I think that there’s the whole issue of dignity. You’re saying to somebody, you don’t deserve to go in and buy a new pair of gym shoes. You know, for a lot of foster kids, they already have so much stacked against them.”

http://michiganmessenger.com/48487/foster-children-would-be-allowed-to-get-clothing-only-from-second-hand-stores

[Drale]

1. I think republicans would have to eat only second hand food

[TheDebbieDee]

14. Great idea!

[ZombieHorde]

2. Going after foster kids now? Life has no meaning. There is no god. nt

[Drale]

4. Well if there was a God and he wanted to test you

wouldn't he use people like the Republicans to do it?

[ZombieHorde]

5. Test me for what? nt

[Drale]

6. I don't know

that you have the ability not to murder one of them in cold blood. Which I admit is very hard sometimes.

[ZombieHorde]

I almost cried when I killed a mouse last year. I feel guilty when I step on worms.

I don't think I could kill a human.

[ejpoeta]

3. I had everything hand me down too, but that doesn't mean i don't give my kids new clothes!

wtf! First of all, my oldest daughter had nothing but hand me downs, yard sale clothes and clearance items until she was 10. And I shop at good will for them and then go to fill out their wardrobe with sale items at kmart... they get new shoes and socks and underwear, a couple of outfits. This way they can still have some new things.

I think representatives should only be allowed to drive used cars and have used office equipment and everything used constituents are paying for it. and if they travel they must take a greyhound bus to get there. and they should have to stay at the cheapest hotel available. one with the kitchenette so they can make their own meals.

[MadBadger]

7. Apparently he has dropped the proposal

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/04/25/135705928/lawmaker-drops-idea-about-second-hand-clothes-critics-dont-notice

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. Thanks for the update - from the article

Three days later, Caswell (a Republican) changed his proposal. As a statement on his website says, "he plans to draft an amendment to the proposal that would direct the state to work with major retailers to create a gift card program that would ensure the clothing allowance money only purchases clothing and shoes at their stores. Furthermore, the amendment will direct DHS to negotiate with the retailers for a discount on those clothing items purchased with the allowance in order to get the best deal for the recipients."

"My sole goal in this proposal is to make sure that children receive the clothing allowance that the state has provided for them and not have it used for anything else," Caswell also said in the statement.

[MadBadger]

10. Yea, that wasnt his sole goal, hes just lying to save face

[bobbolink]

8. When I was a kid, I had very narrow feet, and there was only one store where my parents could find

shoes that fit me.

I guess if you have any special problems, you should just give up and not even bother going to school, eh?

Let me gues..... being a Republican, he probably considers himself a Christian, too, huh?

You're in for a very rude surprise, Sen. Casswell.

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Don't get on the wrong side of pissed off Jesus! LOL

[mntleo2]

18. Hey God! Over There! Sic 'em!!!!! LOL! n/t

[bobbolink]

19. Where is one good, well-placed lightening strike when you need it?

:rofl:

[NotThisTime]

11. I'd find the priciest thrift store in town and even use my money to outfit the child

[MrScorpio]

12. Turning bitterness into governmental policy

That's what today's GOP is all about

[Generic Other]

13. Aunt Mary always used what I called "I wiped my butt with the pages of the Sears catalog" argument

to argue that young kids had it too easy and that one shouldn't waste good money on them.

[mntleo2]

17. M y mom used that one too!

...my grandmother had an outhouse until the early 1950s. Mom said the slick pages were the worst. :silly: :silly:

[Art_from_Ark]

16. These Republicans remind me of a Monty Python skit

where the MP candidate from the "Stark Raving Lunatic Party" wins the election.