Maryland lawmakers in Montgomery County are working to add more free meals for needy students. The county council plans to expand the program’s budget by $150,000 to feed an additional 1,100 students on the weekends.

Montgomery County council member Craig Rice, chair of the council’s education committee and an advocate for the free meals program, appeared on a D.C.-based radio station on Tuesday to promote the expansion of the program, but the radio host questioned whether the program encouraged fiscal irresponsibility, parent neglect and took into consideration the influx of illegal alien children coming into the community.