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Why aren’t Vermont state politicians calling on our federal delegation to end the crisis?
by Rob Roper
With SNAP (food stamp) and LIHEAP (home heating) benefits for low-income Vermonters set to be turned off in November if the federal government doesn’t re-open ASAP, state and local politicians are scrambling to find alternative solutions. So far, despite vague promises, they don’t have any. Nothing concrete and actionable, at any rate.
LIHEAP in Vermont is roughly a $20 million per winter program and needs $13 million at the outset of the heating season – that’s now – to deliver the first round of assistance. SNAP costs $12 million per month. So, if the state is going to backfill funding for these programs for just November, we’re looking at around $25 million. These are state tax dollars we really can’t afford and are not guaranteed to see reimbursed when, at some point, the government does re-open.
An article in Vermont Digger featured comments lamenting this situation by the Scott Administration, House Ways & Means Chair Emilie Kornheiser (D-Brattleboro), Senate Appropriations Chair Andrew Perchlik (D-Washington), House Human Services Chair, Theresa Wood (D-Waterbury), and advocate for Hunger Free Vermont, and State Treasurer Mike Pieciak (D-VT). They are wringing their hands, oh what shall we do! But – inexplicably – none (and not just these) are doing the one sure-fire thing to end this mess and ensure Vermonters don’t wind up cold and hungry:
CALL ON SENATORS SANDERS AND WELCH TO QUIT PLAYING PARTISAN POLITICAL GAMES AND VOTE TO FUND THE $%&! GOVERNMENT!!!
Seriously, folks, grow a pair. Represent your constituents and call these clowns out. Tell them to stand up to leader Schumer (D-NY), set Washington and New York politics aside, and do the right thing for the Vermonters who elected them – and you. And I don’t want to hear from the people who have sued the Trump Administration a gazillion times over federal policy that it isn’t their place to interfere here. Baloney.
Since October 1, there have been twelve votes to pass a clean continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government. Republicans hold 53 seats, and Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them hold 47. It will take 60 votes to break the Schumer-led filibuster that’s causing the shutdown. While a couple Democrats, Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Shaheen of New Hampshire, and Maine independent Angus King have voted with Republicans to re-open the government, Sanders and Welch have voted NO all twelve times.
They don’t care that Vermonters are suffering, in fact, that’s a feature of their plans, not a bug. Democrat Whip Katherine Clark is being accused of saying the quiet part out loud in an interview with this lovely quote, “Of course there will be families that are going to suffer… but it is one of the few leverage times we have.” In other words, this is a hostage situation and Vermont’s most vulnerable citizens are the hostages. The more pain we’re in the better.
Sanders himself echoed this callous sentiment on CNN, saying “When you reopen the government and we lose our leverage….” Of course, he continues to get paid through the shutdown, so there’s no threat of his missing a meal, having to turn the heat down to 50 (if there’s any heat at all) or not being able to pay the mortgage on any of his three homes. This is just a game to him, and Vermonters are pawns. Who will stand up for us?
It’s not just LIHEAP and SNAP at risk. Sanders and Welch voted to block a separate defense bill, meaning out military is not being funded and soldiers and sailors are not being paid. This puts our national security at risk. Air traffic controllers and TSA agents are not being paid, putting lives in the sky at risk. And for all their rhetoric about doing this for Obamacare subsides, their votes to keep the government closed is blocking $50 billion for rural healthcare initiative that Vermont’s rural hospitals desperately need.
So, Governor Scott, President Pro Tem Baruth, Speaker Krowinski, and the rest of Vermont’s state senators and representatives, how about instead of spending your time trying – and so far failing — to figure out how to wring another $25 million out of Vermont taxpayers so as to enable Washington disfunction, you get on the horn to Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum and publicly demand in no uncertain terms that they quit screwing around and vote to re-open our government.
And in the event our elected officials’ thumbs remain stuck somewhere other than the speed dial button on their phones, we citizens might be wise to make some phone calls ourselves. Bernie’s number is 800-339-9834, and Welch’s is 802-863-2525. Your local Representatives and Senators contact info can be found at: legislature.vermont.gov.
A waggish senior Democrat aide was quoted saying the Democrats wouldn’t vote to re-open the government short of “planes falling out of the sky.” Nice. What about before some Vermonters freeze to death or going hungry? Huh, Bernie? Huh, Peter? Asking for some 60,000 friends.
Rob Roper is a freelance writer with 20 years of experience in Vermont politics including three years’ service as chair of the Vermont Republican Party and nine years as President of the Ethan Allen Institute, Vermont’s free market think tank.
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Categories: Commentary, National News
Well said Bob, enough of them holding citizens hostage for the Democrat Party “Leverage”
Why??? Money rules in government. Sander and Welch I’m sure are on the payroll. I’m sure Balint has her hand in the till also.
From your lips to God’s ears (and Bernie’s and Peter’s)
Does anyone know Bernie’s contact info?
senator@sanders.senate.gov
Bernie. Contact left eye black eye club and you will find him. Comment from Richard Day.
Billionaire Timothy Mellon cut a check for $130 Million to pay our military. Billionaires lining up to cut checks for baal-rooms and who knows what else. The Left has their own sugar daddys and cleaning up nicely for themselves. Whether the money is foreign or domestic – they have to have the wars – domestic and foreign. The only way to usher in the NWO is to destroy the current system – all of it. The fear and chaos is paving the way for their consorted plan – they are all in on it – the left and right – the divide and conquer game theory is working. There is no business like show business. There is no honor among thieves as thick as thieves.
None of which would be necessary if it weren’t for fear of the far left billionaires and the religious zealot backed Dem candidates
We the people demand you Bernie ,Welch and anyone else holding the people’s government hostage to pay for services for noncitizens.Release our Government !
don’t forget BECCA…
The House, with Becca voting against it, already passed a Bill that would keep Government open and funded, it is the Schumer’s Dems in Senate that have refused to pass this bipartisan Bill 12 times in recent weeks
Dems are stuck in a rut, stuck in a rut, stuck in a rut,……
This democrat shutdown is really doing some dangerous damage to the country and U.S. citizens. But their (the democrats) main concern are the illegal immigrants and their votes. Yes…their votes.
“In my opinion, I hear the Democrats are gonna be blamed, I hear Republicans are gonna be blamed, I actually think the president would be blamed if there is a shutdown … I think it would be a tremendously negative mark on the president of the United States. He’s the one that has to get people together.”
Thank you for your attention to this matter. DJT
Somethings are conveniently forgotten, eh?
You’re slipping, Nick. You forgot to mention Argentina.
Rob, thank you for being ever so hopeful. But even if every voter called on them to do so they will not. They hate voters as much if not more than the legislators in Montpelier. Of course that’s where our state representatives learned it. Just like how ignored we were when we called the state house about the clean heat bill. Nothing happened we were ignored. It’s the same playbook. Unless we use a strategy they understand ie Antifa they will continue to ignore us.
Nice try, Mr. Roper! SNAP and other worthwhile programs are being kept as hostages by Trump and his billionaire buddies. The Democrats in Congress are the only thing standing in the way of the Republicans causing millions to lose heath care while other hardworking Americans find their health insurance going out of reach.
Paraphrasing the immortal Harry Carey, “PLAY BALLroom!
John it is a Democrat shutdown, Schumer refusing to let a Bill passed by bipartisan house to continue funding until end of November. There is no need to make healthcare more affordable, the Democrats passed the Affordable Care Act with no GOP input and every time the GOP tried to modify to make it more affordable to citizens of the US the Democrats shot it down saying how could you mess with Obama’s legacy and shining accomplishment by making healthcare affordable. The affordability is in the name, The Affordable Care Act. Nice try Mr Devino.
How brainwashed do you have to be to say (or believe) the people voting to fund/re-open the government — twelve times at this point — are the ones keeping closed, and the ones voting to keep it closed are the ones who want it open.
John the clean CR the democrats have voted against 12 times is the same funding they voted for 6 months ago. Insurance is not going away the temporary covid subsidy increase is going away.
Senior Democrat admitted in last few days, but now they are trying to backpedal but the short recording is still out there, the only reason for the shutdown and cutting of benefits is the “Unfortunate” need to make people uncomfortable because “it is the only leverage we (Dems) have”. Everything else is just an excuse
We are 38 trillion in debt. All of this theater is a construct to keep you not paying attention to those who are controlling the narrative. They are getting rich on the infighting! Wake up and realize you are being played by the Uniparty. It can’t and won’t continue much longer.
Turn off your TV….. read a book….PRAY! We can do much better!
🔥🔥
Dems want their supporters to take to the streets causing civil unrest after Nov 1st in a last ditch effort to remain in power then blame it on Trump and supporters.
They want to stop benefit’s from being paid, for one reason only…political gain… on the backs of the people!
The enemy is within!
The enemy are the treasonous insurrectionists of the left!
They must be removed from office and charged with sedition !
GOP is trying, unlike 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 Department of Agriculture has $5 billion in emergency funds. Trump refuses to use any of these funds for SNAP. But of course, he has a big heart for folks living on the edge.