Not a bad question

Here's a howler out of Salem. One of the Republicans in the legislature had the nerve to ask how come the state gives so much money to the Oregon Food Bank when that outfit has turned into a far-left propaganda machine. Of course, said lawmaker was immediately shouted down. The ACLU was there to lecture everyone on how the Food Bank has the right to engage in the democratic process.

But the funniest part was when the new head honcho of the Food Bank got up and pointed out that they spend only $3 million a year on politics.

Only.

Williams brought printed copies of the food bank’s annual financial audits, which are also on its website. In 2023, for instance, the Oregon Food Bank reported spending more than $90 million on food programs and $3 million on advocacy, out of a nearly $112 million total budget. It received more than $20 million in government funding, including the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Oregon Hunger Response Fund. None of that government funding was used for advocacy, Williams said.

Money is fungible, friends. 

The OFB changed executive directors lately, but it's pretty clear that they're doubling down on their habit of spending donors' money preaching about Gaza, drug decriminalization, colonialism, homeless sweeps, and whatever other cause pops into their heads. They're no longer just fighting hunger, you see, they're also fighting the causes of hunger, which are just about every perceived injustice you can name.

Anyway, I applaud the MAGA dude who piped up and raised the question. I needed a chuckle this week.