Editorial: GOP needs to SNAP to it

If the federal government shutdown isn’t resolved soon, millions of Americans will experience significant hardship, in addition to the thousands of federal employees who are working without pay or furloughed. That’s because benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will end come November 1. President Donald Trump could have reconfigured the budget to provide those benefits, otherwise known as food stamps. The Department of Agriculture, which administers SNAP, could tap into its reserves. Or Trump could have received a donation to pay for them, like Timothy Mellon provided $130 million to help pay U.S. troops. But no, Trump and his administration would rather see low-income Americans suffer.

The agriculture department stated that the contingency funding was “not legally available,” according to a New York Times report. However, that didn’t stop the department from blaming trans people and immigrants for the shutdown. At the top of its website, as of October 28, the department states, “Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats. They can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance.”

It's appalling that the agriculture department seeks to conflate gender-affirming care with food security. Never mind that it’s clearly stated on healthcare.gov, the government’s own website, that “Undocumented immigrants can’t get Marketplace health insurance,” referring to the Affordable Care Act. “They may apply for coverage on behalf of documented individuals.” (California has expanded its state-funded Medicaid program to offer health insurance to undocumented immigrants.)

On Tuesday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general and three governors to sue Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and her department for indefinitely suspending SNAP benefits during the government shutdown.

Closer to home, elected officials and others have expressed their concern about the possible lapse in SNAP benefits. Last Friday, Congressmember Lateefah Simon (D-Oakland), held a news conference where she was joined by six mayors and a vice mayor in her congressional district.

“This is a Republican shutdown,” Simon said. “House Democrats have been clear we want to negotiate.”

However, the sticking point is rising health care premiums under the Affordable Care Act and Republicans’ refusal to extend expiring subsidies. Trump and Republican leaders say they will consider extending the tax credits that expire at the end of the year, but only after Democrats vote to reopen the government. Democrats shouldn’t believe them. Republicans hate the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, but over the last 15 years have failed to offer an alternative. Plenty of households, Republican and Democratic, are now receiving notices that their health insurance premiums will increase, just as open enrollment is scheduled to begin November 1.

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee recalled her previous job as a congressmember when she served in the seat Simon now holds.

“I’ve been through so many shutdowns,” she said. “Here we are now, once again, trying to save health care for everyone. Here in Oakland, there are thousands of federal employees working without pay and our essential workers. Local businesses are feeling the ripple effect.”

Lee said that county food banks are stepping up, but many are also soliciting donations.

Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii said city officials are concerned about the SNAP benefits and health care. “You shouldn’t have to pick between health care and food,” Ishii said. “I think it’s important that we continue to fight.”

Albany Mayor Robin López pointed out over 50% of his city’s residents are renters. “We are mindful and we are aware of the struggle,” he said. “It shouldn’t have to be a privilege of being an elected official to have access to affordable health care.”

Even Piedmont, the wealthy enclave that is surrounded by Oakland, is not immune. Vice Mayor Conna McCarthy pointed out that residents work and shop in Oakland. Piedmont is also home to federal workers, she noted.

LGBTQ residents who receive SNAP benefits are also worried. Ray Tilton, a gay leatherman in San Francisco, posted his concerns on Facebook October 23. Shared with his permission, Tilton wrote, “I don't usually publicly talk about my financial stuff, however ... I got the official email that my SNAP/CalFresh benefits will not be there for November.

“I live on a very LOW fixed income and count on that benefit for over half of my food costs,” he added. “Living with the stress every month, day to day has been heavy to say the least. I am really only sharing this because the impact is real. Please, now more than ever be kind and gentle.”

Tilton had written about what so many other people were feeling. And his Facebook friends quickly responded with assistance.

“Good morning everyone. For those who saw my post yesterday regarding the loss of SNAP benefits due to government shut down,” he wrote the following day. “The purpose was to show by example how many of us in our queer circles are facing the same challenges. Also to let anyone know going through these hardships, you are NOT alone.”

He noted that he received private messages from people facing the same challenges and concerns. And he added what turned out to be a positive result.

“I did not post it in asking for help but WOW did some of you come through,” Tilton stated. “I am now food secure for the foreseeable future.”

While we were pleased to see that Tilton received help, it’s distressing that the federal government’s actions, or inactions, have led to this quandary. Food, like health care, is a basic human right. And the U.S. is the wealthiest country in the world. Yet congressional Republicans are only too happy to let SNAP benefits temporarily end with no alternative program. This is certainly not limited to blue state residents. Plenty of people living in red states – and lots who voted for Trump – will experience food insecurity if this administration won’t provide a workaround.

If there’s one thing we know about Trump, it’s that he can do what he wants. In this case, he should help people who need assistance to buy food.