Free breakfasts for needy kids dropped in Colo.

By The AP
Friday, January 21, 2011

DENVER — Colorado lawmakers facing a gaping budget deficit have decided to end free breakfasts for needy children funded by the state Department of Education.

The budget-writing Joint Budget Committee on Thursday decided against spending an additional $124,229 to subsidize the Start Smart Nutrition Program at the end of this school year.

“As a family guy myself with children and grandchildren, I take a very strong responsibility to earn money to feed my own family,” said Sen. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs, who voted against the request.

The breakfasts will still be served. However, low-income students will be charged 30 cents a meal after March, when current funding runs out, The Denver Post reported. The breakfast program serves about 2.3 million breakfasts a year to about 56,000 eligible children.