Indiana congressman Todd Rokita responds to criticism that his proposed changes to the federal school nutrition program will harm poor children and not save money.

Rokita wants to change the eligibility requirements for free and reduced lunch.

Currently if 40 percent of school’s population is eligible for free and reduced lunch then the entire school population would be.  Rokita wants to raise that to 60 percent and use the savings to fund other school nutrition programs.

Critics say the proposal won’t save money, increase administrative costs at the local level and only hurt more poor families.

We spoke with Rokita late last week on WIBC’s Abdul at-Large program.  The Leon-Tailored Audio runs approximately 15 minutes.