By Guy Page
Paying SNAP benefits during shutdown would cost $3 million per week.
Vermont lawmakers are working closely with Governor Phil Scott’s administration to determine how to keep food assistance flowing to more than 65,000 Vermonters as the federal shutdown threatens to halt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments.
Conor Kennedy, Chief of Staff for House Speaker Jill Krowinski, said the Legislature and administration are coordinating efforts to assess the state’s options. “There are a lot of unknowns at the moment that Vermont and all states across the country are trying to navigate,” Kennedy said.
If the government shutdown persists after November 1, the $3 million per week would to pay the benefits would be paid from a reserve fund, Kennedy said.
Kennedy noted that states are questioning why the Trump administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have declined to use their $6 billion contingency fund to maintain SNAP benefits during the shutdown. “In President Trump’s first term, they were prepared to use the fund during the 2018 shutdown but didn’t need to because it ended before that step was necessary,” he said.
Without federal action, Vermont may use its own contingency reserves — money set aside during the legislative session for emergencies such as this. The state’s monthly SNAP cost is roughly $12 million, or $3 million per week. “We are well positioned to support this program as well as LIHEAP,” Kennedy said.
Officials are also examining whether certain direct cash benefits to seniors and disabled Vermonters will continue to be funded federally, which could lower the state’s total cost.
“Right now, the focus is on making sure Vermonters who rely on these benefits aren’t left behind,” Kennedy said.
Discover more from Vermont Daily Chronicle
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categories: State Government
Vermont should insist Sen. Sanders votes to open the government
Absolutely! Welch also.
This should be a good thing. Let me explain. This should embolden individuals to understand the government won’t always take care of you. We the people need to put in the work to rise above. One day, the beast system will be here, and the ones with their hands out now, willingly will sacrifice their souls for handouts then. Get a job, or an extra one. There are plenty of vacancies now that ICE is sending people home. You don’t work, you don’t eat.
You didn’t explain it very well. What is the beast system? What should happen to people that are too old or disabled to work? Should they not be able to eat? Why should people have to work two jobs to eat when we’re building gold-plated ballrooms?
Responding to Chris Cosgrove,
“ What should happen to people that are too old or disabled to work”
A better question is: why does Vermont tax Social Security and disability?
Tom, don’t answer my question with a question, that just tells me you can’t answer my questions.
Chris, receive $20 a month from SNAP under 3 Squares senior program, received a voicemail yesterday from Montpelier saying senior 3 Square benefits will not be paid until the Government reopens, so which groups are receiving the State funded benefits?
Hey Ron, I got a call yesterday too regarding the 3 squares and according to what I heard, I will be getting my benefit but people that just applied, etc. won’t be getting theirs…
Re: “What should happen to people that are too old or disabled to work?”
They should have done what I and many hardworking patriots did. I worked for more than 40 years, paying my taxes (including FICA – Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid via the Federal Insurance Contributions Act). In fact, more than 7% of my income was designated to FICA taxes. Additionally, my employer matched the contribution. So, approximately 15% of my income was designated to a retirement trust fund under the promise that it would pay me my Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid (including Disability benefits) when I retired. Today I live on those benefits. And I manage.
Re: “Why should people have to work two jobs to eat when we’re building gold-plated ballrooms?”
I know it’s impolite to answer a question with a question. But what ‘people’ are you talking about? Retirees or those still working?
Retirees shouldn’t have to do so. If they find themselves in that position, you’ll have to ask them what they did for their working life. Maybe they didn’t actually work but rather lived on Vermont’s generous social welfare benefits – that have been calculated to be equivalent to a $40K annual salary – but don’t require the personal investment in their retirement programs like a paying job does. Did you ever read the fable about the grasshopper and the ants?
Whoops, again, I’m sorry. You did say it’s impolite to answer a question with a question. But I won’t hold you to the same nonsensical requirement. Having been an employer for the last 50 years, I know quite a bit about payroll taxes. So, ask away if you have questions.
Jude, here is the transcription from my voicemail that was left, get a ‘print’ version along with recording on my subscription. ”
If you are a three squares Vermont beneficiary and have received your October 1st benefit, it can still be used and is not impacted by the federal government shutdown. If you are expecting to receive your November 1st 3 squares Vermont Benefit, unless the federal government reopens and authorizes November benefits, it will not be issued due to a lack of federal funds”
Thanks Ron… with Thanksgiving coming, this will hurt.
How do you have a cash reserve when you are only suppose to tax for the current needs. Hope these reserves funds are not connected to a hedge fund invested in Argentina. Comment from Richard Day. Trump will take care of that problem.
“$3 million/week price tag for SNAP benefits if shipping continues.” What shipping?
The $100 Billion annual budget to run SNAP nationwide will cost roughly the same to the taxpayers whether it is funded by the feds or directly by state coffers.
Now if they had all this money in surplus why was our property taxes not lowered?????? Comment from Richard Day.
Property taxes are illegal… does the state have supreme title?
Or do we have allodial title…
Thank you for bringing up the ALLODIAL TITLE on property as this is an important subject that should be discussed. Comment from Richard Day.
Chris, The benefits should be going to the elderly, disabled, struggling working families, people whom legitimately cant work, not illegals for votes. Trump is paying for the gold plated ballroom, out of his pocket, not tax money, not yours or my money. It’s okay if that pisses you off, but not a valid reason for being upset about people’s benefits. Trump can do what he wants with his funds.
In regards to the beast system: I suggest you read a Bible, namely Revelations, get into a church thats actually preaching the word, not saying away from the truth. So stay away from any LGBTQ affirming church, any that don’t preach on repentance, or expect any change. The beast system is what the Antichrist is going to implement sooner than later. If you don’t worship him, no buying, selling, no food, home, etc. One world religion, currency, government, etc. Worship or die, one way or another. Sorry, very quick explanation, can’t fully explain here.
Josh, I appreciate your response, but that’s not even close to what you wrote. “You don’t work, you don’t eat” is what you wrote. Can you explain that to me? I like it when my tax dollars keep the vulnerable from being turned into Soylent Green. I completely agree with you that the government shouldn’t take care of you, but I also don’t think that we should be bailing out Argentina and buying Kristi Noem jets while people here blame Peter Welch for it.
As for the ballroom, I think that it’s hilarious and I’m sure that there’s absolutely no quid-pro-quo going on at all. It’s also great that on Day 28 of the shutdown, Katherine Leavitt said at the White House that the Ballroom was the President’s priority.
I am all good on beast mode, and am actually sorry that I asked.
The White House is owned by the people in this country and is not a private ballroom for the rich and famous and you can be assured you will not be invited for the first dance. This website is becoming a echo chamber and you can not get out of the box. Comment from Richard Day.
Honestly, who cares if any of us never get to go and dance in the ballroom. Wasted money is wasted money. Focus on what you can change, not what you wish you had.
Chris, the Bible says you don’t work, you don’t eat. Jesus also said, the poor you will always have among you. My point was, we take care of the vulnerable, not the freeloaders. Able bodied, need to put in effort to take care of themselves, instead of taking drugs, pickling their livers, while collecting benefits. If we truly wanted to help, we would teach, and support to get off assistance. Would you work for 8 dollars an hour if you could collect 12 hr watching Netflix? The whole system needs a reboot, precisely what Trump is doing. As for the ballroom being priority, yup probably is. Congress is responsible for the shutdown, they don’t want Trump negotiating. They are solely to blame, quit blaming Trump for everything, jeez.
Headline corrected: “SNAP benefits for Vermont to cost the taxpayers of the U.S. $3 million per week if shutdown continues”. The “State of Vermont” pays for nothing.
GOP is trying unlike the Democrats,
https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/republicans-flock-hawleys-snap-bill-amid-shutdown
Sen. Josh Hawley’s, R-Mo., bill to fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits amid the ongoing government shutdown has attracted support from ten Republican Senators and at least one lawmaker on the other side of the aisle.
“There is no reason any of these residents of my state — or any other American who qualifies for food assistance — should go hungry. We can afford to provide the help,” Hawley wrote in the New York Times
The only Senate Democrat currently sponsoring Sen. Josh Hawley’s R- Mo. SNAP funding bill is Sen. Peter Welch D-Vt.