Legislative Update: HB1212 email conversation - April 12, 2024 Windham Independent

Legislative Update: HB1212 email conversation

For the record, this is a complete email conversation I had with a resident of Hillsborough County in regards to HB1212, a bill which would extend eligibility for free and reduced school meals to a large number of NH residents. 

I have only removed their personally identifiable information and (for brevity) email headers, my signature/end paragraphs where I provide my contact information, and their initial email, a form letter created using a website that allows people to email their state representatives with a few clicks - I received tens of those letters about HB1212.

The following are the email messages in chronological order:

Me:

I truly appreciate hearing from you and many other NH residents on HB1212.

Since this bill was presented as a way to ensure that more children have the nutrition they need, can you share with me any information about which school districts are not offering their students breakfast or lunch because of the inability of the student’s family to pay?

At this time, I am unaware of any such situations happening in our state, and I am serving on the Finance II committee which handles our state education budget, and I also served on the Joint Senate/House Committee to Study SNAP and Medicaid Changes on Free or Reduced Meals in State Education Aid Programs, both of which received extensive testimony on school meals.

NH Hunger Solutions, an advocacy group heavily involved in addressing access to nutrition in NH (nhhungersolutions.org) was asked to offer any such data when testifying and they stated they do not have any data showing students are denied school meals because of their inability to pay, so I would much appreciate if you shared any knowledge of such situations happening in our state.

Them:

I don't know how I would personally find that data, but regardless of their family's ability to pay, all children should be assured a nutritious breakfast and lunch at school. A lack of that data is not a viable reason to impair progress on this initiative. 

Me:

Lack of data that a problem exists is a compelling reason to not spend money to solve that hypothetical problem.

This being said, I remain open to addressing any situation in which children are denied breakfast or lunch by their schools based on their lack of ability to pay, so please do not hesitate to share any new information you may find on this topic with me.

Them:

Childhood hunger in our State IS NOT A HYPOTHETICAL PROBLEM. 

I'll be sure to let my community know you think it is, though. 

Me:

Since our entire discussion is in writing, you are welcome to share my questions and answers with anyone - it is all a matter of public record.

But you will want to note the fact that I NEVER said that childhood hunger in our state is not a problem - I just accurately stated that nobody testified that children are denied meals in schools due to their inability to pay, and asked for data to the contrary, which you and anyone else I have engaged with up to this point have not provided.

I have also repeatedly expressed my willingness to address such issues if they are shown to exist.

But a problem has to be proven to exist, then researched as needed to build a case in support of the correct solution - one cannot ask for tens of millions of taxpayer money to be spent without even starting that process.

P. S. Since you are planning to share this conversation with your community, you won't mind if I do the same, right?

Them:

Please do not contact me again.

End of email chain.

Fortunately, this particular discussion was in writing, allowing me to document what was said. Had this been one of the hundreds of in person conversations I had at the Statehouse, it would have been impossible to prove exactly what was said. So when you hear such claims about what your state representatives said… you may want to take them with a grain of salt.

I am always happy to engage with Windham residents - you can call or text me at 603-267-4142, or email me at dpm@leg.state.nh.us. 

Daniel Popovici-Muller

Windham Representative

Clerk, Division II 

House Finance Committee