The current eligibility for free and reduced lunches in New Hampshire is 130 percent of the federal poverty level ($40,560 for a family of four). This year our state legislature rejected a bill to raise the eligibility to 350 percent. Guess what the current eligibility is for our school voucher program? 350 percent of the federal poverty level ($109,200 for a family of four).

When did it become acceptable to provide public tax dollars for private schools to families, 70% percent of whom were already sending their children to private schools, but it is not okay to better meet the nutritional needs of our children? The legislature should be ashamed.

Bernadette Cameron

Deerfield