A Michigan Republican legislator thinks one way to balance the budget is to make sure children in foster care only receive secondhand clothing.
Under a new budget proposal from State Sen. Bruce Casswell, children in the state’s foster care system would be allowed to purchase clothing only in used clothing stores.
Casswell, a Republican representing Branch, Hillsdale, Lenawee and St. Joseph counties, made the proposal this week, reports Michigan Public Radio.
His explanation?
“I never had anything new,” Caswell says. “I got all the hand-me-downs. And my dad, he did a lot of shopping at the Salvation Army, and his comment was — and quite frankly it’s true — once you’re out of the store and you walk down the street, nobody knows where you bought your clothes.”
Under his plan, foster children would receive gift cards that could only be used at places like the Salvation Army, Goodwill and other second hand clothing stores.
What better way to tell children they aren’t good enough than to only allow them secondhand clothes. Don’t get me wrong – I love Goodwill and the Salvation Army. You can find nice clothes there, but kids sometimes want and need new clothes. It’s too bad that MJ isn’t giving out the “asshat of the day” award anymore, because I think Michigan State Senator Bruce Caswell probably deserves it.