USA: PRESIDENT CLINTON: FEDERAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMME

Описание: (10 Mar 1995) English/Nat

President Clinton went back to school Thursday - but only long enough to have lunch with the pupils.

He used the visit to renew his attack on the Republicans, saying proposals to cut nutrition programmes would leave the children of the poor going hungry.

President Clinton stood in line with youngsters from the Patrick Henry Elementary School for a taco lunch.

About 200 of the school's 300 students qualify for free or reduced-price meals here. Under the Federal school lunch programme pupils from low-income families receive a state subsidy to help pay for school lunches.

No discounts for President Clinton though - he paid $2.50 for his taco and carton of milk.

Surrounded by schoolchildren at the table, President Clinton devoured his Mexican meal and joked with the pupils.

Later, however, President Clinton denounced plans by Republican congressmen to cut school lunches as an unwise move.

SOUNDBITE:

"Unfortunately this year, some members of the new Congress have decided cutting this programme would be a good way of cutting government spending and financing tax cuts for upper income Americans. This is penny wise and pound foolish."
SUPER CAPTION: President Clinton

The President has accused Republicans of wanting to take money from education to fund a reduction in capital gains tax for the benefit of upper-income Americans.

The Republicans want the federal school lunch programme to be controlled by each individual state. They believe the programme could then be administered more cheaply and efficiently.

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