Page 29 - Flathead Beacon // 4.2.14

FLATHEADBEACON.COM OPINION APRIL 2, 2014 | 29

UNCOMMON GROUND Mike Jopek
Solutions for your skin

Hungry Kids and Veterans
this Spring

T
HE U.S. HOUSE FINALLY publicans are ignoring the simple fact
allowed the president to sign a that most of the hungry getting access to
he simple, safe approach
ive-year Farm Bill. Much of the food are kids and veterans.
to more beautiful skin
agricultural weather risk policy is good Montana is lucky that Sen. Jon Tes-
news for farmers producing crops like ter helped pass the more Senate-orient-
wheat, barley, corn, or soy. Even milk ed version of the Farm Bill. The House
producers gained access to subsidized and Rep. Steve Daines originally slashed
crop insurance.
hunger programs by $40 billion and al- 15%
The Farm Bill is a funding mecha- lowed polluters to spray potent chemi-
OFF
nism for the food and farm policy of the cals directly adjacent to rivers, streams
United States. Time will tell how the and lakes threatening wild ish.
ALL
USDA interprets and implements the Montanans are lucky that Tester GES
law. Sen. Debbie Stabenow insisted her
knows how to get stuf done and that PACKA
Bullock had the smarts
and leadership skills to
do exactly what Con- “LAST WEEK HOUSE
- Hair Removal -
gress’ farm and food pol-
REPUBLICANS WERE IRATE AT A
- Exfoliation & Hydration -
icy intended.
Firebrand ideo-
- Photorejuvenation -
logues in Washington MAJOR PROVISION OF THE FARM
- Spider Veins
will continue to dema-
Owned/operated by North gogue and argue ad nau- BILL BECAUSE THE GOP’S CUTS
- Pigmented Lesions & Rosacea - Valley Surgical Services. seam about solving pov-
Physician supervised.
erty but Bullock demon- TO FOOD STAMP PROGRAMS
- Aging & Sun Damage -
Full Service IPL/Laser Treatment
strated that it is not hard
- SkinCeuticals Products -
to feed hungry kids.
MAY NOT MATERIALIZE IN
Micro-Dermabrasion/Hydro-Dermabrasion
The next Farm Bill
Always
can be better, no doubt SEVERAL STATES.”
Laser FREE
(406) 862-5576
about it. But some of the
Solutions
current policy that helps
Consultations
2000 Hospital Way, Whiteish beginner farmers and
THE LIGHT THAT TREATS
www.FlatheadLaser.com
school lunch programs is encouraging. bill was reform and “not your father’s

Land conservation and aid to local food Farm Bill.”
pantries fared better.
Last week House Republicans were
Montana’s grain growers gained ac- irate at a major provision of the Farm
cess to huge crop insurance subsidies Bill because the GOP’s cuts to food
and disaster aid to ranchers is back big. stamp programs may not materialize in
There’s signiicant funding directed at several states, including Montana.
ighting climate-related wildires and House Speaker John Boehner re-
cently said, “Since the passage of the
bark beetle infestation that plagues our
federal lands.
Farm Bill, states have found ways to
Congress could do much more to cheat once again on signing up for peo-
help grow more small local farms across ple for food stamps.” Boehner is less con- Cabinet Peaks Medical Center is hiring.
the nation. More small local farms keep cerned with billionaire tax cheats but fo-
America safer with a secure and nutri- cuses on hungry kids and veterans who
tious local food supply.
receive dollars per day in food aid.
• Medical Surgical Manager • Emergency Room RN (PRN)
Republicans like Boehner are using Likely not many Montanans or even • Medical Surgical RN
• Registered Dietitian (PRN)
• Surgery RN
• Occupational herapist (PRN)
food stamps as the midterm election’s members of Congress read the 949-page
red meat to attract conservative base Farm Bill and accompanying Congres- • C.N.A.
• PA-C (Temporary full-time)
voters. In low turnout midterm elections sional Budget Oice scoring. The states • C.N.A. (PRN)
that’s an efective GOP campaign strat- that avoided cuts to food in feeding hun-
egy. It’s not unlike the barrage of misin- gry kids and veterans did exactly what Cabinet Peaks Medical Center (formally St. John’s Lutheran Hospital) is
formation blabbered about healthcare.
the Farm Bill’s plain language said to do.
located in the quaint town of Libby, Montana. CPMC is a 25-bed, state-of-
If the House was really concerned Recently, actor Jef Bridges joined
about cheating or waste Boehner would Gov. Steve Bullock and Darby school stu- the-art critical access hospital located in one of the most beautiful forests
in North America. We ofer excellent compensation & beneits, and a
focus more on the billions allocated to dents to eat breakfast. Bridges and Bull- chance to enjoy your time of pursuing ishing, hiking, skiing, and many
crops like tobacco and cotton and less ock were promoting school breakfast
on the meager $4.50 per day helping feed programs that can be used across the na- more recreational activities! Our brand-new facility opened January 2014!
hungry kids and veterans.
tionwide to help hungry kids get better
The House also opposes raising the access to breakfast. Bullock said, “When
minimum wage, extending unemploy- you’re hungry, it’s hard to get creative View all openings & apply online at http://www.cabinetpeaks.org!
ment insurance, or extending Medicaid ideas going.”
Contact Erin Leighty in Human Resources at (406) 283-7168

healthcare to the poor. But food stamps Bridges and Bullock are leaders in or e-mail [email protected]
programs like SNAP simply feed hungry helping more hungry Montanans gain EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
kids and veterans.
access to much-needed food. House Re-

Mike (Uncommon Ground) Jopek and Dave (Closing Range) Skinner often fall on op-
posite sides of the fence when it comes to political and outdoor issues. Their columns
alternate each week in the Flathead Beacon.