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The Democratic caucus of the Alabama Senate on Tuesday urged Gov. Kay Ivey to call the Legislature into special session to address the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for the month of November. The governor does not plan to do so. The Democratic caucus, which has eight members in the 35-member Senate, made the request in a letter to Ivey and in a press release. The federal government will not pay SNAP benefits in November unless there is a resolution to the shutdown in Washington. About 750,000 Alabamians receive SNAP benefits, about 15% of the population. The average benefit is about $196 a month. The total cost of the benefits is about $150 million a month. While the state pays some of the cost for administering the program, the benefits are 100% federally funded. “Charity has a place in our society, but charity cannot replace a government that works for its people,” Sen. Robert Stewart of Selma, vice chair of the caucus, said in the press release. “When Washington fails, Alabama must step up to protect our families, our small businesses, and our local economies.” Gina Maiola, communication director for Ivey, said the governor has no plans to call a special session. Maiola pointed to Ivey’s statement from Monday. “While the state does not have extra money to do Congress’ job, Governor Ivey hopes to see U.S. Senate Democrats get on board to reopen the federal government,” Ivey said. Republicans and Democrats are blaming each other for the shutdown. Republicans hold the majority in the U.S. Senate and House but need Democratic votes to pass a resolution to continue funding the government temporarily. The Alabama Senate Democrats said a loss of SNAP for November would hurt not only the families that depend on it, but grocery stores and small markets where those families buy food. “Although we know SNAP is a federal program, we are asking Gov. Ivey to call an emergency special session so we can help the citizens of Alabama who are hurting,” Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton of Greensboro said. “People are not going to be thankful this Thanksgiving if they cannot put food on the table to feed their families. This shutdown is not only hurting people, but it’s hurting our local grocers and farmers. “I know the local grocery stores in my town get roughly 70% of their business from SNAP customers and most of those benefits go to feed families and the elderly. We need to do whatever it takes to feed our people.” The caucus urged the governor and legislative leaders to use rainy day funds and other reserves to prevent a disruption of SNAP benefits. “These funds exist for moments like this, when the rain is falling hardest on those with the fewest resources,” Stewart said. “We must act swiftly and decisively to ensure no Alabamian goes hungry because of political gridlock in Washington.”
