MN Senate passes bill for free school breakfast and lunch for all public school students

All Minnesota public school students could receive free school breakfast and lunch regardless of family income, under a bill Democrats and some Republicans in the state Senate passed Tuesday.  Mazeppa Republican Steve Drazkowski objects…

“The people of Minnesota are paying in this bill over 400 million dollars… to pay for the lunches of kids, the majority of which are already having their lunches paid for by their families now.”

Eden Prairie Democrat Steve Cwodzinski says he voted “yes” for all the students who weren’t in the lunchroom — and during his teaching career…

“I’d see some kid outside their locker on the floor and I’d give ’em a jab and I’d say, hey, how come you’re not in the lunchroom?  And they’d say something witty and intelligent — but I knew why they weren’t in the lunchroom.”

The bill now needs House approval of changes before heading to the desk of Governor Tim Walz, who will likely sign it.