Officials express frustration over potential loss of SNAP benefits
Associated Press
About 2 million Pennsylvanians are just a handful of days away from losing food assistance as a result of the federal government shutdown, and officials on both the state and federal levels are expressing frustration as the stalemate drags on.
Earlier this month, Pennsylvania and other states were notified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that November payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would not be made as a result of the federal shutdown that began on Oct. 1. The federal government sends about $366 million every month to the commonwealth for SNAP benefits, which were once known as food stamps.
In a news release issued Monday, Gov. Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh, both Democrats, blamed Republicans for the federal shutdown, which is now the second-longest in U.S. history. According to Shapiro, “Republicans’ failure to pass a federal budget in Washington, D.C., is having a direct impact on our commonwealth, and now this federal shutdown is threatening critical food assistance for 2 million Pennsylvanians who rely on SNAP to feed themselves and their families.”
Arkoosh said, “Inaction from Republicans in Congress threatens more than just access to health care for Pennsylvanians who rely on tax credits to purchase health insurance – it now disrupts life-sustaining food assistance and other critical programs and further endangers health and wellbeing for Pennsylvanians who rely on these programs and services.”
However, in a statement released by the office of U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, the congressman said, “It’s unacceptable and entirely avoidable that we’ve reached this point.”
He added, “Over a month ago, House Republicans passed a clean funding bill to keep the government open, but (U.S. Sen.) Chuck Schumer and congressional Democrats blocked it nearly a dozen times to push for taxpayer-funded health care for illegal immigrants. It’s time they put the American people ahead of their radical left base and vote to reopen the government today.”
The shutdown battle has centered on the extension of premium tax credits for purchasers of health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If the tax credits are allowed to expire at the end of the year, Democrats have contended that premiums will soar for the 25 million Americans who purchase insurance through the exchanges established by the ACA.
U.S. Sen. David McCormick, a Republican, said in a statement released by his office, “I have voted to open the federal government more than 10 times, co-sponsored legislation to prevent future government shutdowns, and repeatedly warned of the harm (U.S. Sen.) Chuck Schumer’s politically motivated shutdown would cause hardworking Pennsylvanians.”
He added, “I sincerely hope that the loss of SNAP benefits, along with missed paychecks for federal employees and members of our military, will be enough to encourage Senate Democrats to take the commonsense approach and join Sen. Fetterman and myself in voting to reopen the government.”
The office of U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat, did not respond to a request for comment. However, Fetterman was one of the few Senate Democrats who voted against the government shutdown. According to the online publication The Hill, Fetterman told reporters Tuesday, “There are no winners here. It’s not getting better every day here. People are going to start to get really hungry, and I’ve been fully, fully committed to fund SNAP (and) open up the government.”
Fayette County has the second-highest percentage of recipients of SNAP benefits in Pennsylvania – 24.3%. Philadelphia County has the most, with a little more than 30% of its population receiving SNAP benefits. Greene County is sixth in Pennsylvania, with 20.2%, and Washington County is 46th, with 12.9%.