Millions could face severe cuts to food stamps due to government shutdown

CBS News ^ | January 6th, 2019 | By Grace Segers

[Mariner]

The partial government shutdown glided into its third week Saturday with no end in sight. If the government is not reopened before February, millions of Americans who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) -- the nation's food stamp program -- could have their assistance disrupted.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP at the federal level, is one of the agencies unfunded during the partial government shutdown. Although SNAP is automatically renewed, it has not been allocated funding from Congress beyond January. Congress has appropriated $3 billion in emergency funds for SNAP distribution, but that would not cover all of February's obligations.

In September 2018, the last month for which data is available, $4.7 billion in SNAP benefits were disbursed throughout every state. If the shutdown continues through March, there will be no remaining funding for SNAP, endangering food security for millions of Americans.

[Mariner]

Democrats will blame Republicans (Trump) and Republicans will blame Democrats.

Stalemate.

Except at least 90% of those who benefit from these programs vote Democrat or don't vote at all.

[Michael.SF.]

Millions on Food Stamps (SNAP) can afford to lose a few pounds.

[unixfox]

These parasites shouldn’t have any trouble finding jobs in this economy.

WINNING

[txrefugee]

There’s always the McDonald’s Dollar Menu. They won’t starve. But the crooked store owners that buy EBT cards are going to miss their extra income.

[BipolarBob]

I see almost as many panhandlers on street corners as I do “Help Wanted” signs in businesses.

[Cowboy Bob]

In September 2018, the last month for which data is available, $4.7 billion in SNAP benefits were disbursed throughout every state.

$4.7 billion a MONTH! That's almost what Trump wants for the wall. When the Food Stamp people riot, it won't be at the White House. It will be directed towards the Democrats who refuse to grant the money for the wall.

I don't think Trump should be in a hurry to negotiate.

[central_va]

[TallahasseeConservative]

That’s why the Dems want the Government reopened so badly. Eventually the takers will start to blame them, when Big Daddy gubmint can’t help them.

[brownsfan]

The media is furiously trying to convince Americans the shutdown is bad, and will negatively affect them. That’s because no one really notices.

[entropy12]

Does that mean there will be fewer grocery carts over-loaded to the brim, and then paid by EBT cards?

[fruser1]

Beans and rice are cheap.

[Go Gordon]

If the government is not reopened before February... More fake news. It is not the current shutdown that will affect SNAP. It is the fact that current continuing resolution(s) that have been used to fund the government, runs out February 8th. It will be the failure of rats and pubs to continue that funding.

[bigbob]

All that matters is that they will blame Democrats, since they are the ones who promised the free stuff, and Democrats will cave under the pressure.

Not for Trump, nor from us, but from their own base.

[Menehune56]

Well it was time for a new flat screen TV anyway.

[IronJack]

Good. There’s no program in fedzilla that’s more rife with abuse.

[eyeamok]

More Fake News, after reading the article they equate Foreign National Illegal Aliens as “Americans”?? In Los Angeles alo0ne, there are 1 Million Illegal Alien Foreign nationals receiving these benefits.

[CodeToad]

The program needs ended. This program primarily goes to illegal aliens.

[hal ogen]

Maybe some of the fat slobs one sees using food stamps will lose some weight. Cry me a river. Get a job, larda**es!

[Dr. Sivana]

I see almost as many panhandlers on street corners as I do “Help Wanted” signs in businesses.

I am in Phoenix, where I suspect it is even worse. I now suspect that the highway exits are franchised out. Some are phonies, some simply cannot pass a drug test, some have a truly sad story. Good luck sorting them out.

[Huskrrrr]

Lobster and steak sales take a hit.