SNAP, the federal program which helps feed 42 million Americans, including 700,000 Oregonians, faces cuts under the Trump Administration’s huge domestic policy bill.
Congressional Republicans want to eliminate $230 billion from the program, shifting costs to states. The U.S. House could vote on the bill as soon as tomorrow.
Matt Newell-Ching, senior manager of public policy for Oregon Food Bank, has been running the numbers on how the changes could affect Oregonians. He said the cuts would reduce benefits from $6 a day to less than $4, or just $1.60 per meal.
“As if cutting benefits wasn’t bad enough on its own, we find it particularly grotesque that this is being done in service of cutting taxes for the wealthiest among us,” Newell-Ching asserted.
Critics of the program said it is too costly for taxpayers. However, data show every dollar spent on SNAP generates up to $1.80 for the state at grocery stores and other local businesses. Gov. Tina Kotek has said such a loss of revenue could mean some stores have to close.
Newell-Ching explained the federal government currently covers all SNAP food benefits, with states only contributing to administrative costs. However, the new proposal would require states to pay up to 25% of the total SNAP costs, which in Oregon could amount to $800 million every two years.
“That either comes from cuts to schools or health care or housing, or it comes from increased revenue that the state now has to raise,” Newell-Ching pointed out.
He stressed there is still a long way to go before the proposed cuts become law, including passing the Senate, and they are not inevitable.
“We’ve seen similar proposals floated over the last 20 years that have died because people have spoken up and said: ‘Here’s what this would mean for our communities,’” Newell-Ching observed.
Isobel Charle, Oregon News Service
