Republican Suggests Kids Work at McDonald's Instead of Getting Free Lunch - Newsweek
By: Aila Slisco (Newsweek)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A Republican congressman has suggested that children should work at McDonald's instead of relying on federally funded school lunch programs.
What To Know
Representative Rich McCormick of Georgia suggested during an interview with CNN's Pamela Brown on Tuesday that free lunch programs were a way for school children to "sponge off the government" after being asked if he would "support getting rid of school lunch for vulnerable kids."
"When you talk about school lunches, hey, I worked my way through high school," said McCormick. "I don't know about you, but I worked since I was, before I was even 13 years old. I was picking berries in the field before we had child labor laws that precluded that. I was a paperboy. And when I was in high school, I worked my entire way through.
"I mean, how many people got their start at fast-food restaurants when they were kids?" he continued. "Versus just giving a blanket rule that gives all kids lunches in high school who are capable of going out and actually getting a job and doing something that makes them have value, thinking about their future instead of thinking about how they're going to sponge out the government."
McCormick went on to suggest that kids who received lunch without working during high school were being kept "on welfare" by the government.
"That's what's been the inner city problem for a very long time," he added. "We need to have a top-down review so we can get people out of poverty. Because you know what? America's very good at creating jobs and giving them worth. And we've been very, traditionally, good at that but we're losing our way. And that's when we give people incentives to stay at home and not work, that doesn't work for America."
Brown then pointed out that many children who receive school lunch "are not even of working age," prompting McCormick to say "I get that" in response.
Newsweek reached out for comment to McCormick's office via email on Tuesday.
What People Are Saying
Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin said on X (formerly Twitter): "President Trump's lawless federal grant freeze attacks critical public services that we all depend on. Their assault on civil society now threatens fire safety, school lunches, disaster relief, cancer research, law enforcement and more. We will fight to resolve this constitutional crisis."
Art Candee, a Chicago-based artist and frequent Trump critic, said on X: "Where exactly does Republican Rep. Rich McCormick think kindergartners are going to get a job to pay for their school lunches? MaKE ChiLD LaBOr GreAT aGAiN."
Former professional tennis player Martina Navratilova said on X: "What a pr**k. What about 10 year olds??? They are supposed to WORK FOR THEIR LUNCH!!!!?????"
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I might be wrong, but I think about 90% of kids that receive free lunch arent old enough to work at Mc Donalds.
They have to find a different group to accept low paying jobs since they're kicking out all the immigrants that they find. Children may be that workforce.