The fact that the U.S. is dealing with a serious shortage of baby formula is becoming a crisis, but Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) has a simple solution: eff those kids. According to the New Civil Rights Movement, [1] Gaetz said this week that babies born into low-income families shouldn’t have the same access to food as those born into wealthy, or even families with moderate means. He even voted against a bill because he said, it would take food away from wealthier families.
Gaetz is reinforcing the Republican mantra that abortion is wrong but once a child is born — “Oh well, good luck kid. You’re on your own.”
The Republicans have been doggedly attacking the Biden administration and Democrats for weeks now with nonsensical allegations about the very real [2] baby formula shortage. They continually try to find ways to blame President Joe Biden and others within his administration. And yet when Democrats presented a pair of bills on the House floor to help ease this crisis, Republicans were only too happy to vote against the measures, refusing to help impoverished families.
Over half the baby formula sold in the U.S. is purchased via government assistance programs like WIC, which is the Special Supplement Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, [3] the NCRM reports.
But Gaetz is saying families who are dependent on such governmental assistance should step back to allow “hard-working” Americans when it comes to buying baby formula.
David Badash, [4] writing for the NRCM notes:
“Equating wealth with being hard-working is a fallacy, as is saying those who are low-income do not work hard.”
Badash also adds that “WIC narrows and controls the amount of baby formula that families using it can buy, but it also specifies the brands and even stores they can use.”
One measure that’s been set forward, H.R.7791, known as the Access To Baby Formula Act of 2022 [5] seeks to temporarily reduce these restrictions but Gaetz is against making baby formula more accessible to families “because they are poor,” and because they aren’t “hard-working,” Badash notes.
“H.R. 7791 would make baby formula shortages worse for most Americans,” Gaetz tweeted. “It will allow WIC to utilize a far greater portion of the baby formula market, crowding out many hard-working American families.”
H.R. 7791 would make baby formula shortages worse for most Americans. It will allow WIC to utilize a far greater portion of the baby formula market, crowding out many hard-working American families. (1/2)
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) May 19, 2022 [6]
All considered, government-empowered swings to markets typically create more problems than they solve. Instead of creating new emergency authorities for the Incompetent Biden Regime, we should source more product for all American families and solve the problem. (2/2)
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) May 19, 2022 [7]
Boy, Gaetz is a real prize, isn’t he? Especially with all those allegations [8] that he was sex-trafficking a minor. Because this is the kind of person he is. He was also one of a number of GOPers who worked to upend [9] the 2020 election, which fortunately failed. But when someone has ethics like that, why would they care if the children of poor families go unfed?
True to form, he was one of nine Republicans to vote against the bill. But the good and somewhat unusual thing is that most Republicans seemed to view this bill as innocuous enough so they allowed it to pass through unanimous consent and this meant a vote wasn’t required. It will now head to Biden to become law.
And believe me, Gaetz’s callous tweet caused considerable ire on Twitter, as you can see below.
So now it is baby versus baby – the fight for formula? Wouldn't someone as pro-life as you be talking about how do we make sure all babies get what they need to survive?
— CG (@chachagrl1) May 19, 2022 [10]
Many military families receive WIC checks. I’m in his district and it is heavily military. Huge bases. Don’t let this slip by. He knows this too. Do NOT let him off the hook on this one.
— kim schade (@Gatorpharmer_ks) May 19, 2022 [11]
Define "hard working". A lot of us took WIC benefits back when I was a young active-duty airman in the USAF many years ago. I feel like we worked pretty hard. We didn't all grow up with a daddy who could get us out of multiple DUIs.
— Kevin Slane (@KSlane74) May 19, 2022 [12]
So poor babies aren’t entitled to food?
— Ann Marie Peterson (@AMLPeterson) May 19, 2022 [13]
so what your saying is if we just kill the babies we wouldn’t have to worry about feeding the babies? you’re a genius you figured it out👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
— Just Joe (@usernamejustjoe) May 19, 2022 [14]
So poor families with infants who depend on WIC should just allow their infants to starve? So much for being pro-life from the party that has no problem with kids on poverty
— pamarrington (@pamarrington7) May 19, 2022 [15]