By Hank Russell
Two local politicians clapped back at Governor Kathy Hochul’s claim that the Republicans in Congress are hurting the state’s poor by withholding funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Plan (SNAP).
Hochul accused Washington Republicans of playing political games with federally funded SNAP benefits for millions of New Yorkers.
In a letter from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services, the local SNAP program administrators were told that funding for the program would run out by November 1, affecting 42 million people across the country. “ Considering the operational issues and constraints that exist in automated systems, and in the interest of preserving maximum flexibility, we are forced to direct States to hold their November issuance files and delay transmission to State EBT vendors until further notice. This includes on-going SNAP benefits and daily files,” the agency wrote in its letter.
According to Hochul, the Trump Administration has indicated to New York that the federal government will not allow states to distribute federal funding for SNAP recipients. She called the president’s actions a deliberate and unprecedented decision intended to inflict pain on millions of hardworking American families. Since SNAP is a federally funded program that New York cannot backfill using state dollars, Hochul said she is calling on Washington Republicans to release SNAP funding.
“I’m outraged that Washington Republicans are deliberately withholding federal funding from millions of New Yorkers who rely on SNAP to put food on the table,” Hochul said. “This is a cruel, senseless and politically motivated punishment inflicted by the Trump Administration that they have the power to avoid. Lives depend on this, and Washington Republicans need to stop playing games. Release this federal funding right now and let states get this money to families to ensure they don’t go hungry!”
According to data from the state, there are approximately 185,000 Long Islanders who rely on SNAP. “SNAP recipients, most of whom are children, older adults or disabled, count on SNAP every month to feed their families,” said Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn. “Food assistance is critically needed and is a particular concern given the current high costs of food, rent, and energy.”
Guinn also called for the Trump administration to act “so that the millions of Americans and New Yorkers who depend on it are not allowed to become the casualties of a budget fight.”
As the shutdown enters its 16th day, the blame continues to go around. An Associated Press-NORC poll released on October 16 found that 58% of those polled said the GOP In Congress should take “a great deal/quite a bit” of blame for the shutdown. Trump should shoulder the same amount of blame, according to 58% of respondents, while 54% said Democrats are equally to blame. Along party lines, 69% of Democrats and 37% of Republicans said the shutdown was a major problem.
Meanwhile, a Harvard CAPS Harris poll conducted by Harvard University and The Harris Poll showed that 53% said the Republicans are to blame for the shutdown, and 47% said it is the Democrats’ fault. However, 65% of those surveyed called on the Democrats to end the shutdown — even without the Obamacare subsidies.
According to poll data, the shutdown might favor the GOP politically. Thirty-six percent of respondents said the shutdown would make them “more likely” to vote Republican, 34% for the Democratic Party and 30% said this would not affect their vote.
Both Long Island Republican congressmen shot down Hochul’s claims.
“Our gaslighting governor has it backwards,” said Nick LaLota (R-Rocky Point). “It’s Chuck Schumer and 43 other Senate Democrats who are blocking status-quo funding for important programs like SNAP. Rather than engage in this farce, she should tell Chuck to stand up to AOC [U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] and [New York City mayoral candidate Zohran] Mamdani and vote yes to re-open the government.”
Andrew Garbarino (R-Patchogue) said it should be the Democrats, not the GOP, to reinstate SNAP funding. “While Senator Schumer cynically said that ‘every day gets better for us,’ his shutdown is making every day worse for New Yorkers,” he said. “Now, Schumer’s political games are jeopardizing food assistance for vulnerable New Yorkers. He should stop holding the country hostage and immediately reopen the government.”