In politics, we love to call things “free.” Free college. Free health care. Free school lunches. But Michiganians know better: nothing is free. Taxpayers foot the bill, and when hundreds of millions of dollars are involved, we ought to be honest about where that money goes and whether it’s being put to good use.

Michigan’s new budget continues funding “free” breakfast and lunch for every K-12 public school student. It’s a well-intentioned program. No child should sit in a classroom distracted by hunger. But the truth is simple: these are state-purchased, taxpayer-funded meals. And if we’re going to spend this kind of money, we should at least make sure Michigan families and farmers benefit from it.

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