Democratic lawmakers and state officials are warning that the changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program enacted through last year’s reconciliation package are unrealistic for states and counties, which are expected to do more to run the program.
They say that the tab for the program is too big for anyone other than the federal government to pick up. And they’re worried that as the burden of administering the program, which serves more than 42 million people, shifts away from the federal government, that states and counties may be vulnerable to more cuts by Republicans in Washington.
“Any mistakes will be held against the states and will be used to punish them by withholding more federal funding for SNAP food assistance,” said Rep. Angie Craig, the ranking Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, at an event on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.