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Partisan agenda could leave low-income Vermonters cold and hungry.
by Rob Roper
As of this writing there have been ten votes to re-open the government since October 1. The 53 Republican senators need at least seven Democrats and Independents to break with Chuck Schumer to reach the 60-vote threshold to break the Democrats’ filibuster, and while a few have put their constituents above partisan politics, Vermont’s two senators, Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch, have not. On all ten votes to end the shutdown, they voted NO.
The consequences of this “partisan politics over people” obstinance could be devastating for Vermont’s most vulnerable citizens. A meeting of the Joint Fiscal Committee on October 16 underscored how serious the situation is, especially in regard to low income food and heating assistance programs, SNAP and LIHEAP.
Vermont winter is approaching fast, and it is already starting to get cold. As I started writing this article the radio news reported temperatures were below freezing in St. Albans. 15,000 households, over 30,000 people, depend on LIHEAP (Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program] to keep warm. The program costs about $20 million for the full winter, but needs around $13 million to implement the first round of deliveries – soon. Josh Davis, executive director of SEVCA, testified:
Our goal of getting people to stretch from now to when the seasonal fuel assists come only work if that assist comes. So, if that is delayed, if that doesn’t happen, we’ll have many that will literally freeze. We don’t have contingency or backup funds that we can rely on…. We’ve been told that there are contingencies for a while and that there was a plan with the government shutdown, but as of right now we haven’t seen details of that plan and the timing is mismatched with what has to happen. Vermonters are turning on their heating systems now.
Asked if the continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government passed by the Republican majority in the House and supported by the Republicans in the Senate provided funding for LIHEAP, Matt Cota of Meadow Hill Consulting, testified, “It’s my understanding that both the House and Senate versions of the CR… had funding for the LIHEP program.”
So, if Sanders and Welch continue to block a re-opening of the government through the end of the month, refusing to pass the CR, Vermonters will, to quote Davis again, “literally freeze.”
A larger and even more logistically problematic issue is the impact on the SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] benefits. This program helps with the grocery bills of 31,000 households, more than 63,000 low-income Vermonters. It costs between $12 and $13 million per month to operate. It is a federal program administered by the state.
Jenney Samuelson, Secretary of the Agency of Human Services, explained,
If the lapse in the appropriation [aka the government shutdown] continues there will be insufficient funds to pay for the SNAP benefits… essentially saying that SNAP benefits will end or will not continue in November. [Emphasis added]
That’s less than two weeks away. And unlike LIHEAP, where there are some potential options for the state to backfill the locked-up funds and deliver benefits on time, there are no such options for SNAP. The reason for this is the EBT cards beneficiaries use to access their benefits are controlled at the federal level, and the folks who do that work are, well, shut down. As such, as Samuelson stated, “It could mean that the EBT cards issued are no longer functional beginning on November 1st.”
So, even if the state were able to find the money in Vermont to fund the program temporarily, the mechanism for people to use that money still wouldn’t work. In human terms, a person on November 1 could go to the grocery store, fill their cart, and find out at the check-out counter that they can’t pay for the food. And there doesn’t appear to be any workaround for this. Samuelson again:
We have been exploring what it would look like to potentially backfill the program with state funds in the interim basis, but… it looks like the federal contingency plan may make that impossible at this time. We’ve been in lots of communication with other states, and most other states have come to the same conclusion and are not going to be able to backfill it with state funds.
While I personally have issues with how the SNAP program is administered and believe it is in dire need of reform, cutting everyone off the program without warning is beyond callous and totally irresponsible governance.
Sanders and Welch need to stop playing to their radical “resistance” at all costs base – most of whom I suspect face no threat of winding up cold and hungry as a result of this political game – and consider the lives and well-being of their most vulnerable, and perhaps less politically active, constituents.
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Categories: Commentary, National News
There is a song that best describes Sanders and Welch. Just search for the movie, Horsefeathers, starring Groucho Marx and read the lyrics of his song, “ I’m Against It”. I would put it up on this site but being old, I don’t know how. Anybody?
[WAGSTAFF]
I don’t know what they have to say
It makes no difference anyway
Whatever it is, I’m against it
No matter what it is or who commenced it
I’m against it
Your proposition may be good
But let’s have one thing understood:
Whatever it is, I’m against it
And even when you’ve changed it or condensed it
I’m against it
I’m opposed to it
On general principles, I’m opposed to it
[STUDENTS]
He’s opposed to it
In fact, indeed, he’s opposed to it
[WAGSTAFF]
For months before my son was born
I used to yell from night till morn
“Whatever it is, I’m against it.”
And I’ve been yelling since I first commenced it
I’m against it
Thank you.
And let’s not forget Duck Soup where Groucho sings “ The laws of the administration”.
All three were elected to run Washington.
They ran it into the ground, and almost buried it, hence President Trump getting elected, in a landslide, and is salvaging their mess ,as I type this !
Now they refuse to do the job they are elected to do, showing us that Vermont, and the nation, really needs none of these three, as they are not able to handle their elected duties.
There is only one solution, for the collective trilogy of failed VT leftist officials, Vermont sent to Washington.
YOU’RE FIRED!!!
Vote the bums out!
Stop paying them and take away some benefits.
Now lets see, NO FOOD, NO FUEL, NO PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE IN VERMONT, Now what could go wrong????? Comment From Richard Day.
Hear that? Big government as usual. Republican against Democrats and some dimwit that feigns to be Independent. These are our so called representatives, playing politics with our well being. While the less than fortunate go without food, shelter, and elderly without medical, Boinie, A.O.C. and their cohorts with be jet setting on luxury planes because they wouldn’t be caught dead flying with us little people. Remember come next November (2026).
If for no other reason than this Sanders and Welch give Vermonters a reason to never vote for these 🤡 clowns again. Demanding $1.5 trillion dollars to keep the government open on top of a $37 trillion dollar deficit.
Here is a tiny example of the tax payer money they want to keep the government open.
$358 billion – making permanent
COVID era Obama Care
subsidies without any income
caps or any other reforms.
$200 billion – adding illegal aliens
back to tax payer funded
healthcare.
$500,000 million – to fund liberal
news outlets.
$24.6 million – climate resilience in
Honduras
$ 13.4 million – civic engagement in
Zimbabwe.
$ 3.9 million – LGBTQI+ for
democracy grants in the
Western Balkins.
$ 2.9 million – desert locust risk
reduction in the Horn of Africa.
$ 2.0 million – organizing for feminist
democratic principles in Africa.
This is about 1/3 (a sample) of the demands and what they want to spend taxpayer money on.
Bob, perhaps the Dems should just give the money to Argentina. That’s a win, eh? Surely we’ll see massive returns from funding a failing government. It’s not like their economy has been struggling for decades.
Again, Mr. Rosato, the aid package for Argentina includes provisions that the funds be paid back, with interest, in U.S. dollars. That is, indeed, a win – especially when compared to frivolous Democrat spending demands.
Jay, it is telling that the $20 billion jumped to $40 billion quicker than a sneeze. Argentina is broke and it ain’t getting be….. wait a minute, maybe you have a point. Argentina will be able to pay it back because included in the $40 billion deal is the china soybean market. Trump literally snatched the biggest export market of soybeans from US farmers and gave it to Argentina. Such a nice guy, this trump character. America firs…. After you, sweet Argentina.
Hey, Rosato, you’re catching on. Argentina will be able to pay back the loan from the U.S., plus interest, in American dollars, because China will buy soybeans from Argentina, while Trump takes tariff money, plus the interest from the Argentine loan, to help U.S. soybean farmers over the short term, while the U.S. gets inexpensive soybeans locally, and while the U.S. and Argentina’s economies improve.
‘The Art of The Deal’.
Your assessment is quit telling, Jay. Cheering on government handouts and taxation…. Truly the republican way!
Loans aren’t handouts. They’re contracts. Big difference. Progressive liberals give handouts. Conservatives make loans – quid pro quo.
Jay, You need to remember that to Dems a loan is a grant that they feel doesn’t need to be repaid i.e. Biden Student Loan forgiveness
Ron, I can only speak to the facts of the matter, not to what various people interpret the facts to ‘mean’. Loans are contracts involving quid pro quo. Something that is given in return for something else or accepted as a reciprocal part of a voluntary exchange. We have a Uniform Commercial Code to follow. And a deadbeat is a crook – no matter what party affiliation they may have.
Samuel Douglass says he will resign. Will phil scott demand the 2 wearing the is he dead yet tee shrts resign too?
I 2nd Azjim comment!!
A so-called Republican Governor and many others with Trump Derangement Syndrome. Don’t you think 🤔 I do for sure!!
Wake to F up Vermonters wake up!!
A valid point indeed.
Vermont State Senators Rebecca White and Joe Major, both Democrats representing Windsor County, were photographed posing with an unidentified man wearing an “Is He Dead Yet?” T-shirt at the Labor Day parade in Chester on September 1, 2025.
For those not in the know, the “Is He Dead Yet?’ tee shirt is a reference to assassination attempts on President Trump’s life. And while it’s not a racist or ethnic slur, it rises to a level of behavior equally reprehensible.
If we’re willing to hold Sam Douglass accountable for participating in a chat group riddled with racist and ethnic slurs, having one’s picture taken at a public event with someone wearing a tee shirt advocating the assassination of anyone, while knowing full-well the photo would be published (if not anticipating that it be published), is similarly reprehensible. These representatives too should apologize AND resign.
If it’s time to clean house – let’s do it. Next case.
Wow. Such unbiased assessment can only be delivered by roper. Clearly the republicans are not involved in the shutdown. I believe it to be true because they have relinquished their lawmaking abilities to trump. As the king said “don’t even bother dealing with [democrats.]” Ans so the court jester, MAGA Mike Johnson, sends his delegation on vacation. Why? So they cant negotiate.so sad to see republicans relinquish their lawmaking abilities.
Feel better soon Nick.
Skippy, I think you meant to say “they don’t have Argentina’s best interest in mind.”
While vt remains heavily blue (mainly thanks to Chittenden county) there are many, many vermonters that lean right and support the administration’s efforts to reform our federal policies. Im curious how our millionaire representatives in D.C., Becca, Peter and Bernie, are representing the values of the vermonters that don’t share their beliefs? It’s clear they don’t care. Lastly, don’t hold your breath for the government to provide you sustenance. That was never the design of our government and is very dangerous when a government morphs into that role. Thomas Jefferson warned us of this. Trust in God as opposed to rich men north of Richmond. Do whatever you can to craft your life around self sufficiency be it a woodstove, hunting, fishing, gardening, homeschooling, bardering, etc. When you get there i think you’ll find it very fulfilling and fruitful. Remain in the world, not of the world. May God bless you and yours!
Well said Mr.Roper.
The mid west farmers are not happy with Trump with the soy bean issue. Many could go bankrupt and do damage on many other local business that supply other services to the farmers. Comment from Richard Day.