This morning Senator Schumer, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Senator Ben Ray Lujan, introduced two bills. The first one will fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) before the Nov. 1st deadline. If it isn't passed 42 million Americans will go hungry.
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UPDATE: A coalition of 25 Democratic-run states sued the Trump administration to prevent billions of dollars of cuts to federal food assistance. If the lawsuit is successful SNAP will be funded in time.
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The second bill would preserve the Affordable Care Act by extending health insurance tax credits in exchange for the Democrats support to reopen the government. The Nov. 1st deadline is in sight and there's no time to waste on partisan politics. Though the tax credits are set to sunset at the end of the year, increased premiums are expected to appear during the open enrollment period.
The reality that faces both bills is grim. Trump's hammerlock on the House and Senate is firm. Trump could care less if people go hungry or lose their health insurance. He's demonstrating his disdain for the American people by going on an Asian tour to collect gifts bribes from several countries.
For example, South Korea presented Trump with a gold crown today. I'm not kidding! The irony is as thick as a brick.
The insidious thing is that during Trump's first regime there was a long shutdown, the longest in history, but he somehow found a way to fund the program back then. Why not do it this time?
I think you know the answer. Trump has no guardrails and is openly playing the dictator. There is a fund to tap, an annual appropriation, this time, just like the last time. Congress built in a backup fund for just this kind of emergency.
The extended effect of losing the SNAP program goes beyond hungry people. For example, one dollar in SNAP benefits generates $1.50 in economic activity, according to the USDA.
At this point, I'm afraid the cowardly Republicans in both the House and Senate are going off an economic cliff like lunatic lemmings to please their dear leader.
It would take a miracle to bring MAGA Mike and his puppets back to the House to save Americans that are going to go hungry and lose their health benefits. The Senate will need to move fast - as in today or tomorrow - to save both programs.
As it Stands, the SNAP program is 60 years-old and has never been unfunded... until now.
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