Bruce F. Simmeth – 6/4/06

This page was last updated on June 4, 2006.

Helping the hungry; Bruce F. Simmeth; Beaver County Times; June 4, 2006.

The letter identifies the author as Executive Director of United Way of Beaver County.

As in his letter from last year at this time, Mr. Simmeth overstates alleged cuts. In January, Mr. Simmeth wanted federal taxpayers to increase their funding of the Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by $2,000,000,000. I did not critique that letter (“Hike LIHEAP funding”; January 24, 2006) and it is no longer on the Times website.

While I applaud Mr. Simmeth’s efforts to help the less fortunate among us, I oppose the use of taxpayer dollars to fund any of these efforts. It’s wrong to take income from one person and give it to another, regardless of good intentions.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“In December, Congress voted to stop funding the Community Food and Nutrition Program. This decision has resulted in food banks across Pennsylvania implementing a 6 percent reduction in caseload that has the impact of about 1,000 low-income seniors not receiving their monthly food boxes.”

[RWC] For the final two years of the program, the appropriation was just over $7 million per year. Since I don’t know how much went to PA, let’s look at two possible scenarios. If allocated evenly per state that would be about $140,000 per state per year. If allocated based on population, the amount would be about $296,000 per year for PA. As you’ll see below, these numbers are important for reference.

“In relationship to the 2006-2007 commonwealth budget, I have written our state representatives and senators requesting that they appropriate $19 million for the State Food Purchase Program in order to meet the growing need at food pantries and cupboards throughout Pennsylvania.”

[RWC] Based on the 2005-2006 figure, PA appropriated $18 million for this program.

“In order to keep our 3-year-old children eating their fresh fruits and vegetables, I am also requesting that $2.6 million be appropriated for the Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program.”

[RWC] Based on the 2005-2006 figure, PA appropriated $2 million for this program.

“It is my hope that increased funding support at the state level will at least partially offset the December decision by Congress to stop funding the CFNP.”

[RWC] If you kept track, you found Mr. Simmeth wants to increase commonwealth spending by $1.6 million to “at least partially offset” the elimination of somewhere in the area of $140,000 to $300,000 from federal taxpayers. By my math, Mr. Simmeth’s idea of a “partial offset” is to increase spending by anywhere from five to 10 times.

“It is against this background that the United Way of Beaver County and the Boy Scouts are once again coordinating the Scouting for Food drive to help the hungry. This annual community-wide effort collects donated canned foods and household products to support The Salvation Army food bank system, which fed more than 2,400 needy families in Beaver County last year.

“Due to the elimination of the CFNP and other projected budget cuts at the federal level, there is a tremendous need for the success of this effort. If you would like to support the Scouting for Food drive, please contact the United Way’s office in Center Township.”