SB4, the “Healthy Hunger-Free Students’ Bill of Rights Act,” expands “free” meals to all public, charter, and private school students attending schools that participate in the national school breakfast and lunch programs.
The House passed SB4 on March 12, 2023, by a vote of 63 to 0. We have assigned minuses to the yeas because it is not the role of government to feed or educate children; rather, each of these responsibilities belongs to a child’s parents or family. Not only does charity have no part in the duty of government, but there can be no such thing as a “free” meal that comes at “no cost.” The reality is that this type of ‘cradle-to-grave’ program relies on the unconstitutional theft of taxpayer money for use on behalf of some citizens (particularly those who have little or no tax liability) at the expense of others—resulting in more debt, dependency, and poverty. The hard-working people of New Mexico should not be forced to fund all that now entails a compulsory, failing, and state-administered K-12 school system.