Florida representative Matt Gaetz is facing fierce backlash after suggesting that low-income families should not have the same access to baby formula as high-income Americans because they are not “hard-working.”
For weeks, Republicans have been using the baby formula shortage as a political hammer against Democrats and baselessly trying to pin the blame on the Biden administration. But when the Democrats put forward two bills on the House to help ease the crisis, almost all Republicans voted against helping families.
Most of the baby formula sold in the U.S. is purchased through government assistance programs like WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
But the Florida lawmaker says those families accessing government assistance should take a back seat to “hard-working” Americans when it comes to buying baby formula, seemingly equating wealth with being hard-working.
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Gaetz opposes equal access to baby formula for poor people because, in his mind, they are not “hard-working.”
“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.”
Naturally, his tweet didn’t go unanswered.
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
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
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
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
So poor babies aren’t entitled to food?
— Ann Marie Peterson (@AMLPeterson) May 19, 2022
So let’s clarify, you think families that benefit from WIC are not “hard-working families”. Define hard-working families for us that you used in this context.
— pamarrington (@pamarrington7) May 19, 2022
— Rep.WeThePeople (@Kenny_mckenzie1) May 19, 2022
— hawkeye63 (@hawkeye632) May 19, 2022
So the @GOP only thinks certain infants in this country deserve formula?????? And what those other infants the @GOP considers less can just what starve? Kind of on brand for the @GOP. If the @GOP was in charge they would only send formula to red states right.
— pamarrington (@pamarrington7) May 19, 2022
We get it Matt- only white babies get formula is what you’re saying.
— Saul Goodman 🇺🇦🌻 (@JSpicoli3) May 19, 2022
You have officially lost your right to complain about the baby formula issue in that case. If you don’t have any solutions, and vote against the solutions that others offer, you’re not truly concerned about the problem. But we already knew that.
— Liam. (@lpferris) May 19, 2022
Of course Republicans voted against this. If there wasn’t a baby formula crisis, what could they complain about? @Jim_Jordan @SenTedCruz
— Paul Mooney 慕亦仁 (@pjmooney) May 19, 2022
