re: Landry declines Federal Funds for food assistance.

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Louisiana is one of 15 states that declined to take part in a federal program

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“LDOE considered it improper to commit Governor Landry and a new legislature to millions of dollars in increased spending toward a new government program,” department spokesman Ted Beasley wrote in a statement to the Illuminator.

“Additionally, LDOE determined that existing meal programs… would remain in effect during the summer of 2024.

Further, LDOE secured confirmation from the USDA that Louisiana could still enter into the Summer EBT program beyond January 1.”

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Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said he turned down the USDA offer because of his desire to reject “attempts to expand the welfare state,”

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“Federal money often comes with strings attached, and more of it is often not a good thing,” Ian Fury, spokesperson for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, wrote in an email to Chalkbeat. Low unemployment, the summer program’s administrative burden “robust existing food programs” were other reasons he said the state declined.

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Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a statement saying her opposition to Summer EBT was because the program doesn’t tightly restrict what foods families can buy and it would cost the state $2.2 million to administer

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