State Government

State fully funds food, fuel benefits thru Nov. 15

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by VDC staff

[Editor’s note: Due to an editing oversight, an earlier version of this news story incorrectly stated that the Republican Senate majority was responsible for the government shutdown. In fact, the blame for the shutdown is cast by the opposing parties on each other. Thank you to readers Jude Piser and Sandy Oliver for pointing this out.]

With more than 65,000 Vermonters facing the loss of food and heating assistance due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, the Vermont Emergency Board voted unanimously Tuesday to fully fund SNAP (3SquaresVT) and LIHEAP benefits at the state level.

The board — composed of the governor and the chairs of the Legislature’s key budget committees — approved an emergency plan to prevent service disruptions for tens of thousands of low-income families, older Vermonters, and working households who rely on the programs for grocery support and heating fuel assistance.

“One in ten Vermonters was about to lose access to these benefits,” House Speaker Jill Krowinski said following the vote. “The Republican-led shutdown has created real fear and anxiety for families wondering how they’ll afford groceries or heat their homes. Today’s vote shows that in Vermont, we still believe the government’s job is to show up for people and work together to get things done.”

Krowinski noted that SNAP’s impact extends beyond individual households. “3SquaresVT doesn’t just feed our most vulnerable neighbors; it supports our farms, grocery stores, and small businesses. Without it, we’d see a ripple effect across our entire local food economy,” she said.

The swift, bipartisan decision came after extensive coordination between the Administration and legislative leaders. Representatives Robin Scheu and Emilie Kornheiser, both members of the Emergency Board, said the action was aimed at protecting Vermonters as winter approaches.

Two Vermont House committees will meet Wednesday to assess the impact of recent federal policy changes on food assistance, housing, climate planning, and energy programs.

The House Committee on Human Services will convene at 9 a.m. in Room 46 to review federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and receive updates on statewide homelessness and housing pressures. Lawmakers will hear from agency officials, service providers, and advocates to evaluate how Vermonters are being affected and whether legislative action is needed.

At the same time, the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure will meet in Room 9 to discuss shifting federal climate and energy policies and their implications for Vermont’s clean energy goals and infrastructure planning.

Both meetings will be livestreamed and recorded on the General Assembly’s website.

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Categories: State Government

34 replies »

  1. I subscribed to your publication because I thought it was fairl This article proves it is not. The first line is gaslighting. It is NOT a Republican led shut down. It is a Schumer Democrat shutdown. Will think twice about renewing,

    • I agree and am surprised. Who are these ‘VDC Staff’?

      And as long as VDC persists in assigning blame, please correct the headline.

      ‘State fully funds food, fuel benefits thru Nov. 15’… No. It should read…

      Vermont Democrat/Progressive legislative majority forces taxpayers to fund food, fuel benefits thru Nov. 15

    • Postscript: To the VDC Staff:

      The Republican proposal is a clean continuing resolution (CR), formally H.R. 5371 (passed by the House 217–215 on September 19, 2025). It does not directly address or cause a government shutdown—in fact, its sole purpose is to prevent or end one by maintaining the status quo on federal funding.

      The CR is a standard tool to avert shutdowns—used 13 times under Biden—but the Democrat standoff has weaponized it. For the full bill text, see Congress.gov (H.R. 5371). If talks advance, resolution could come soon; otherwise, impacts like SNAP disruptions loom.

    • Brian Costello, Guy mentioned this on the Hot Off the Press radio show today, it’s almost impossible to change the names once they’ve been entered into the system. Just an FYI

    • Hi Nancy, VDC was just reporting what House Speaker, Jill Krowinski had said.

    • Hey Greg Houghton… Guy edited the article after realizing it had ‘gone to press’ without being fully edited and he corrected the first paragraph to reflect the truth on Friday the 31st.

  2. Hey Guy, I have to say Nancy is right… why does this article claim it’s a Republican led shutdown??

  3. Of course the Montpelier meeting will be full of accusations and disinformation about the Schumer Shutdown being a Trump Republican shutdown. The GOP is voting 100% to reopen Government as it was in September, Democrats vote 100% for keeping it shutdown, how much more can Republicans do than vote 100% to reopen and fund, but Democrats say give us what we want and you can eat, we will discuss repealing items you don’t like later, fat chance.

  4. The figure of 65,000 Vermonters is 10% of our population. Not a good look Vermont! The way things are going chances are that percentage will increase with layoffs commencing in haste and more people drowning in debt. What happens after November 15? Do they know something the rest us do not?

    It is no secret, the Democrat leadership states clearly they are utilizing the shut down as leverage – meaning they are using their voting block as human shields – knowingly and willingly putting people at risk to force issues that not exactly clear or detailed. The Republican leadership is saying, stay home, don’t show up. There isn’t any other legislation to be worked on? No other issues that can be discussed? They are getting paid, with benefits, to stay home and not do the People’s business? Seriously!? The DOJ, DHS, the Treasury, and Dept of War seem to be going full-tilt. What or who is fueling their coffers and incentives?

    The Vermont leadership knew this was coming and they did nothing until crisis-mode struck because of their political grandstanding vengence. Shame upon all of them. People need to wake up and wake up now to this nefarious, disgusting posturing and willful malfeasance against Americans.

  5. Yes, they probably think that this makes them look like heroes. Wrong! Bernie, Peter and Becca really look like the three stooges, only that’s not fair to the late Three Stooges. Apologies to Moe, Larry, Curley and of course Shemp.

  6. The key board thumpers are wide awake this morning. Comment from Richard Day. Looks like you will not have to shoot the wild turkeys for a couple more weeks.

  7. Headline corrected: “state taxpayers fully fund food fuel benefits…”. The “state” of Vermont pays for nothing.

  8. One thing is clear. None of the above commentators are worried about buying food or having enough money to pay for housing and utilities.

  9. Krowinski says it is Republican lead shutdown, read the article for starters. What I want, is a full list of all recipients to SNAP and a doge to find out who is playing the system. Wishful thinking.

    • How does funding NPR and PBS again feed people, part of the Democrats demands to reopen Government, along with English for Trans people in the Middle East programs

    • Exactly, re: recipients. There needs to be some means of validating the recipients need for such assistance. I know…. they know how to work the system. A friend of mine is upset because some in his extended family are receiving assistance, and they are very capable of working. When you see so many businesses with “Help Wanted” signs posted, and then people walking around begging for money.

  11. When I was very young, I remember going to the house of the Overseer of the Poor to pick up a box of food. Mom did some very creative dishes from this food. My favorite was spam and velveeta pizza. Good times.

    • Also, back in those days we had “Poor Farms” in towns like where I grew up. They were very good for people that weren’t able to exist on their own. The residents were allowed a sense of pride because they actually worked for their room and board. The women maintained the house, including cooking, and the men maintained the farm, which produced a lot of the food.
      I am aware that my theory is not popular today, but it DID work.

    • The food we would get was Government Surplus known as commodities. When friends, teachers and others in town knew that you were on commodities, you were looked at differently.

  12. Send the bill $$$$$$$$ to liberal leftist Dem Swamp Rats 🐀 🐀 period asap
    You Dems are beyond disgusting to say the least period!! 👎🏿👎👎🏿👎👎🏿👎🏿👎

  15. When you give the government power to feed you, you give government the power to starve you! That’s why Socialism, Marxism, and Communism never work. Ever!

  16. Subsidies, Subsidies, and more Subsidies !
    Food
    Healthcare
    Energy
    That’s all it is … What does that do you ask …..
    Increase costs to EVERYONE !
    You don’t subsidize Broken Systems ! You cannot continue to throw money at things that cannot be fixed. Tear them down and start over !!

    • Absolutely! There needs to be a complete and thorough AUDIT of all US funds/programs for the past 40 years, to start.
      The problem will be finding honest people to accomplish it.

  18. Did anyone notice that the snap program was shut down 33 days after the government was shut down????? The number 33 is an occult number used by a not so nice group of perverts. How can this be true????/ Remember the Charlie Kirk drama. Comment from Richard Day.

  20. A judge just ordered Trump to use emergency funds for SNAP. Why in hell can’t the judge order the democrats to vote to open things up.

  21. The question begs – Why is 10% of the state population on Snap in the first place and what are the demographics? Elderly, disabled, etc. ?