KOCO ANDY WEBER TALKED TO A GROUP CALLED HUNGER FREE OKLAHOMA. DISAPPOINTMENT WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT. I THINK IT’S A IT’S THE WRONG DECISION. I THINK IT’S WRONG FOR OKLAHOMA KIDS. AND I THINK WE’RE LEAVING A TON OF OKLAHOMA TAXPAYERS DOLLARS IN DC TO GO TO ANOTHER STATE. KOCO WAS FIRST TO REPORT. GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT WOULD BE OPTING OUT OF A FEDERAL SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM FOR A SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR. STITT’S OFFICE, CALLING THE PROGRAM A BIDEN-HARRIS HANDOUT. WE SHOWED YOU HIS REASONING FOR PASSING ON SON BUCKS, WHICH WOULD SEND $120 PER CHILD TO QUALIFYING OKLAHOMA FAMILIES NEXT SUMMER. TODAY, HUNGER FREE OKLAHOMA BLASTED THE REASONING LINE BY LINE. STITT’S OFFICE CLAIMS THE PROGRAM HAS FLOUNDERED IN OTHER STATES AND THAT LOCAL NONPROFITS AND STATE PROGRAMS ARE MEETING THE NEED. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF HIS CLAIM THAT THERE’S PLENTY OF OTHER PROGRAMS THAT THE STATE HAS IN PLACE, OR THAT NONPROFITS HAVE IN PLACE TO OFFER THESE FAMILIES? I THINK IT SHOWS A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE PROGRAMS WORK TOGETHER, OR EVEN WHAT THE PROGRAMS ARE. SO THE STATEMENT SAYS THAT OKLAHOMANS DON’T NEED FEDERAL PROGRAMS, BUT IT NAMES FOUR DIFFERENT FEDERAL PROGRAMS WITHIN IT THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE TO HELP ALLEVIATE HUNGER. HUNGER FREE CEO CHRIS BERNARD, NOTING THAT THE $50 MILLION IN AID, THE PROGRAM COULD PROVIDE FAR EXCEEDS WHAT OKLAHOMA’S NONPROFITS CAN OFFER. WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNOR? OUR MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNOR IS THAT OKLAHOMANS WANT THIS PROGRAM. THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT HE REFERENCES WANT THIS PROGRAM. THAT WAS ANDY WEBER REPORTING JUST INTO OUR NEWSROOM BY THE WAY, THE GOVERNOR’S TEAM SENDING US THIS QUOTE, WE DON’T WANT ANY KID IN OKLAHOMA TO GO HUNGRY SAYING, THIS IS FROM GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT. THAT’S WHY I MADE SURE THAT WE CUT THE GROC
Groups working to feed Oklahomans disappointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt’s decision to opt out of summer feeding program two years in a row
Groups that work to feed Oklahomans tore apart Gov. Kevin Stitt’s reasoning for sitting out of a federal program that would send Oklahoma families money for food.
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Updated: 5:51 PM CDT Aug 15, 2024
Groups that work to feed Oklahomans tore apart Gov. Kevin Stitt’s reasoning for sitting out of a federal program that would send Oklahoma families money for food.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Chris Bernard, chief executive officer of Hunger Free Oklahoma, accused Stitt of prioritizing politics ahead of data, saying that Stitt is overlooking the program’s proven effectiveness in states that took the money.“Disappointment would be an understatement; I think it’s the wrong decision, I think it’s wrong for Oklahoma kids, and I think we’re leaving a ton of Oklahoma’s taxpayer dollars in DC to go to another state,” Bernard said.>> Download the KOCO 5 AppKOCO 5 was the first to report that Stitt would be opting out of a federal summer feeding program for a second straight year. Stitt’s office called the program a Biden-Harris handout.The program, known as Sun Bucks, would send $120 per child to qualifying Oklahoma families next summer.On Thursday, Hunger Free Oklahoma blasted the reasoning line by line.Stitt’s office claims the program has floundered in other states and that local nonprofits and state programs are meeting the need.“I think it shows a lack of understanding of how the programs work together, or even what the programs are. So the statement says Oklahomans don’t need federal programs, but it names four different federal programs within it that we currently have to help alleviate hunger,” Bernard said.Bernard noted that the $50 million in aid the program could provide far exceeds what Oklahoma’s nonprofits can offer.“Our message to the governor is Oklahomans want this program, the community partners that he refences, want this program,” Bernard said.Stitt responded Thursday on Facebook regarding the decision."We don’t want any kid in Oklahoma to go hungry. That’s why I made sure we cut the grocery tax to keep more money in Oklahomans’ pockets. Now, Oklahoma families will save around $800/year on average on their grocery bills," Stitt wrote.Top Headlines TIMELINE: Severe storms with risk of 60-70 mph damaging winds possibly on Thursday 5 people, including 2 doctors, charged in investigation into Matthew Perry’s death State Superintendent Ryan Walters faces scrutiny from member of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s cabinet New law preventing teachers from directly communicating with students starts this school year Police investigating homicide after OKC woman dies week after being struck by stray bullet in bed
OKLAHOMA CITY — Groups that work to feed Oklahomans tore apart Gov. Kevin Stitt’s reasoning for sitting out of a federal program that would send Oklahoma families money for food.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
Chris Bernard, chief executive officer of Hunger Free Oklahoma, accused Stitt of prioritizing politics ahead of data, saying that Stitt is overlooking the program’s proven effectiveness in states that took the money.
“Disappointment would be an understatement; I think it’s the wrong decision, I think it’s wrong for Oklahoma kids, and I think we’re leaving a ton of Oklahoma’s taxpayer dollars in DC to go to another state,” Bernard said.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
KOCO 5 was the first to report that Stitt would be opting out of a federal summer feeding program for a second straight year. Stitt’s office called the program a Biden-Harris handout.
The program, known as Sun Bucks, would send $120 per child to qualifying Oklahoma families next summer.
On Thursday, Hunger Free Oklahoma blasted the reasoning line by line.
Stitt’s office claims the program has floundered in other states and that local nonprofits and state programs are meeting the need.
“I think it shows a lack of understanding of how the programs work together, or even what the programs are. So the statement says Oklahomans don’t need federal programs, but it names four different federal programs within it that we currently have to help alleviate hunger,” Bernard said.
Bernard noted that the $50 million in aid the program could provide far exceeds what Oklahoma’s nonprofits can offer.
“Our message to the governor is Oklahomans want this program, the community partners that he refences, want this program,” Bernard said.
Stitt responded Thursday on Facebook regarding the decision.
"We don’t want any kid in Oklahoma to go hungry. That’s why I made sure we cut the grocery tax to keep more money in Oklahomans’ pockets. Now, Oklahoma families will save around $800/year on average on their grocery bills," Stitt wrote.
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