“This is a big victory," Governor Ferguson said.
“Multiple judges have made it clear: The Trump Administration must stop holding hungry families hostage.
"The USDA has funds to provide these food benefits, and the Trump Administration needs to follow the law and do so.”
Washington state is working to digest the court rulings and get benefits flowing as soon as possible.
Earlier this week, Governor Ferguson directed nearly $2.2 million per week to provide additional support to Washington’s food banks in the wake of the Congressional Republicans’ government shutdown. If SNAP funds are not restored on Nov. 1, Washington will proceed with that payment.
Attorney General Nick Brown filed a lawsuit against the USDA in Massachusetts, arguing the suspension of SNAP is unlawful.
The judge in that case, and another in separate case in Rhode Island, issued orders today finding that USDA must use contingency funds to pay November SNAP benefits.
The Massachusetts judge instructed USDA to update the court by Monday about its progress, and whether it will pay full or partial benefits. The Rhode Island judge ordered USDA to distribute contingency funds and report to the court on Monday regarding the status of the distribution.
Rural Washington will be hit particularly hard if federal SNAP benefits stop. In Yakima County, for example, 28 percent of residents rely on SNAP — the highest percentage of any county statewide.
More Washingtonians are turning to food banks and pantries for support. These community resources are also facing historic demand in the midst of rising food costs. Individuals should expect longer than usual wait times and limited resources.
Individuals looking for help, or to donate, should reach out to their local food bank. More help locating food resources is available on the Washington Department of Agriculture’s website, or by calling 360-725-5640. You can also call 211, or visit Washington 211’s website, for help locating additional resources.
Rural Washington will be hit particularly hard if federal SNAP benefits stop. In Yakima County, for example, 28 percent of residents rely on SNAP — the highest percentage of any county statewide.
More Washingtonians are turning to food banks and pantries for support. These community resources are also facing historic demand in the midst of rising food costs. Individuals should expect longer than usual wait times and limited resources.
Individuals looking for help, or to donate, should reach out to their local food bank. More help locating food resources is available on the Washington Department of Agriculture’s website, or by calling 360-725-5640. You can also call 211, or visit Washington 211’s website, for help locating additional resources.
To say 'congressional Republicans’ government shutdown" it's completely inaccurate and misleading. Is the Democrats who are refusing to vote on a clean continuing resolution to keep the government funded at Biden level budget funding. Republicans don't have 60 votes in the Senate to overcome the filibuster. They need a handful of Democrats on any legislation to make it over the finish line and pass it. It is Democrats who are refusing, except a few democrats, to supply the necessary votes to pass the clean CR. Republicans are asking for nothing. Please keep your bias and inaccuracies out of your article and just stick to the facts if you want people to continue to read your blog.
ReplyDeleteIf the Republicans really wanted to push this "clean CR" through they could vote to cancel the filibuster, (which is not a Constitutional mandate.)
DeleteThey have done that for other actions, such as approving judgeships.
Democrats had only one option for getting Republicans to negotiate the Republican’s move to eliminate ACA assistance for healthcare coverage for millions of US citizens. If that is not negotiated, those citizen’s healthcare coverage costs will double next year. The increase would devastate them, making coverage impossible or straining already struggling individuals and families. Rather than engage in any kind of possible compromise for those millions of citizens, Republicans have taken vacation from even showing up for their jobs, while Trump claims that Democrats want healthcare coverage for “illegals” (undocumented immigrants). Polls show that over half of the country do not want the ACA removed. The Democrats are being pushed to do what’s right for those millions of citizens at risk of such disaster.
DeleteSame baloney different day. Some lowly district court judge on the other side of the country makes a ruling that will no doubt be overturned by a higher court like most of the rest of the court cases brought by Washington State and friends. The governor could use his time more wisely if he called his fellow dems and asked them to vote for the CR but I don't believe his first intensions is to restore funding efficiently. This is just more RESIST political posing.
ReplyDeleteA lowly district court judge has no authority to dictate to the executive how an emergency fund should be spent. If SNAP is so important, perhaps we should ask our two senators why they voted 14 times (at last count) not to fund it by reopening the federal government.
ReplyDeleteI have a good friend who has been on furlough for five weeks now. Is her income security important to the Democrats who have voted no time and time again? Or once the EBT cards get filled, does she go back to being their political pawn?