Copyright berkshireeagle
To the editor: Let’s call the food stamp crisis for what it is: Trump and Congressional Republicans are starving working Americans and their children so they can let them further suffer from lack of affordable health care. The administration could use emergency reserves to keep SNAP benefits flowing but they refuse, with the disingenuous claim that it’s not legally allowed. When the government shut down in 2019 during Trump’s first administration, it used reserve funds it now claims are off-limits. Back then, Trump’s secretary of agriculture announced, “It works and is legally sound.” A federal court ruled that the Trump administration is acting “unlawfully." In Berkshire County, 22,000 residents will find it harder to put food on the table because of Trump’s unlawful actions, and the local economy will suffer as well with less money flowing to grocers and farmers. Republicans control both houses of Congress and the White House. They could end the shutdown if they chose. But they would rather hold low-income working Americans hostage than negotiate with Democrats. House Speaker Johnson said as much, telling CNN that funding SNAP “will reduce the pressure for them to do all of it.” By “all of it,” Johnson means agreeing to reopen the government without any concessions to help the American public. And for what are Democrats asking? To continue tax credits so that 22 million Americans aren’t faced with a doubling of Obamacare health insurance premiums. And, to guarantee that Congressional appropriations are actually spent by the Trump administration as intended for the benefit of all Americans, regardless of who they voted for. Democrats are right to continue holding out for a restoration of Affordable Care Act insurance subsidies. Speaker Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Thune are negotiating in bad faith, demanding that Democrats agree to reopen the government before they talk. But Republicans already refused to extend the premium tax credits in the budget passed earlier this year. They also reduced SNAP benefits, making it harder in particular for younger Americans to qualify. Considering that Trump refuses to spend appropriations that don’t fit his agenda, mandating that Congressional appropriations be spent is necessary to fund public health, public education, food safety and other programs that improve the welfare of everyday Americans. Budgets are a statement of values. It’s clear where Republicans stand: against reducing food insecurity and making health care affordable but in favor of giving huge tax breaks to the rich. Jonathan Perloe, Great Barrington
