GOP sees food fight as kids trash USDA fruit, vegetable guidelines

House Republicans say new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines aimed at forcing students to eat fruits and vegetables are a failure because students across the country are simply tossing the healthy fare into the trash.

"[T]here remains great concern with the amount of food waste generated at school cafeterias, much of it brought on by requiring students to take fruits and vegetables rather than simply offer them," Reps. John Kline (R-Minn.), Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) told USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack in a letter sent Thursday.

"This is a waste of federal, state and local funds and is contrary to the law's goal of feeding as many low-income and hungry children as possible," they said. "Once again, we are aware USDA has attempted to address this situation by allowing greater choice in reimbursable meals, but students should not have to take additional food if they have no intention of eating it."

Republicans have been criticizing USDA school lunch guidelines for the last few months, in particular USDA rules that set maximum-calorie guidelines for all meals subsidized by taxpayers. Last month, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) introduced the No Hungry Kids Act, which would repeal these calorie restrictions.

Via: The Hill

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Rep. Steve King considering bill to repeal everything Obama has signed

If Rep. Steve King (R-IA) has his way, everything President Obama has signed into law would be repealed, and he is considering a bill to do just that, The Hill reported Wednesday.

"King put forward this suggestion to an Iowa audience on Tuesday, when he also reiterated his threat to sue the Obama administration for its June decision not to deport younger illegal immigrants," Pete Kasperowicz wrote.

He also told a group of about 60 people in Humboldt County that he intends to sue the administration over an executive orderstopping the deportation of certain illegal immigrants.

''I am bringing him to court and we're going to defend the Constitution of the United States and the separation of powers,'' he said.

According to the Messenger, King's lawsuit may be filed before Labor Day.

"He said Tuesday that he decided to sue the president the day the executive order was announced," the Messenger reported.

King said that President Obama violated the Constitution by usurping Congress' role in the lawmaking process.

''He has prosecutorial discretion, but he does not have the ability to grant blanket amnesty to entire classes of people," he added.

While King's proposal would certainly undo Obamacare, Think Progress said it would also end the Bush-era tax cuts that Obama extended in 2010, defund the military, strip Medals of Honor from 9/11 first responders and cancel plans to honor President Ronald Reagan.

Via: Examiner

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