EDITORIAL: Is the government really taking away people’s food stamps on a Christian Holy Day?
By Matthew Young, RealWV
For anyone who’s been paying attention, the scariest thing about Halloween this year is what’s going to happen between today and tomorrow. As you read this, most federal workers – including the military – are playing a demented game of “trick-or-treat” with their paychecks, while the 42 million-or-so Americans relying on SNAP benefits to feed their families are hoping not to find all their candy full of razor blades come All Saints Day on Saturday.
With the federal government shutdown – now for the 31st consecutive day, making it the second longest federal shutdown in the nation’s history – some 1.4 million federal employees are poised to miss their first full paycheck today. And while President Donald Trump directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to “get the military paid” during the October 15 pay cycle, it is unclear if Hegseth will manage the same on October 31 – and this says nothing of the possible illegality of Trump’s order to spend $8 billion worth of Congressionally-appropriated funds designated for defense research. Conversely, all members of both the United States Senate and House of Representatives will continue receiving their full pay as scheduled, regardless of the shutdown, and seemingly in spite of their creation of it. For the month of October, the salaries of all 100 Senators and 435 members of the House of Representatives, came at the taxpayer-expense of $7.75 million.
Even more concerning is Saturday’s scheduled termination of SNAP benefits for upwards of 42 million recipients, and the catastrophic effect this will likely have on the American economy. And while the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) blames the Democrats for the shutdown, and Democrats likewise blame the Republicans, as the USDA explained, “Bottom line, the well has run dry.”
The USDA, which falls under the purview of the Trump-led Executive Branch of the federal government, is the entity tasked with facilitating SNAP operations, including payments. As a federal entitlement program – at least as argued by lawyers for the Democratic Governors of more than 20 states, and seemingly confirmed by Federal Judge Indira Talwani – the federal government is required, by law, to continue paying out SNAP benefits throughout all national emergencies.
The good news for Trump and the USDA, is that although the primary well has “run dry,” the USDA has a “contingency” well holding approximately $5 billion, that the Legislature created for just this purpose. The bad news for Americans is that Trump claims not to have the authority to tap that “contingency” well. This claim puts Trump on rather unfamiliar-footing, especially when considering his legally-questionable directive to the defense secretary. As Trump is legally required to use the contingency fund to continue funding SNAP, one could rationally conclude that he would be allowed to do so.
More than 270,000 West Virginians currently rely on SNAP benefits, which accounts for nearly 13% of the state’s population. The average benefit is $168 per month, bringing the state’s total just under $46 million. However, despite the state’s deep dependence on SNAP, of the two-dozen state governors currently suing the federal government to compel the Trump Administration to continue funding the program, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey is not among them.
Although stopping short of taking legal action or calling out the Trump Administration or USDA by name, both Morrisey and West Virginia House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, expressed their displeasure over the situation. During a Tuesday press conference, Morrisey called the termination of SNAP payments a “serious problem,” and “a crisis,” while Hanshaw added that the federal government has “abdicated its responsibility.”
Tuesday’s press conference was held for Morrisey to announce that West Virginia will contribute $13 million to help fund the state’s food banks. Morrisey’s announcement however, came with a catch: the funding will be up to $13 million, and only as a match to funds donated by members of the general public. In effect, Morrisey is calling on private citizens to help cover the cost of the federal government “abdicating its responsibility,” while simultaneously claiming that the State of West Virginia cannot afford the other $13 million to “be able to do it alone.” For perspective, as governor, Morrisey is paid an annual salary of $190,424, with Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice, as well as Representatives Carol Miller and Riley Moore, earning $174,000 each. Collectively, the five politicians have a net worth reaching well into the hundreds-of-millions. In a number disproportionately-skewed by geography, the average West Virginian makes $55,000 per year.
For his part, Hanshaw applauded “the governor and the entire executive team for the decisions that will fill the void here that’s been created by a dysfunctional federal government.” The “void” Hanshaw referenced to, is well above $46 million per month, some $20 million more than Morrisey’s $26 million fund-raising goal. If Morrisey’s plan succeeds as he’s explained it, it would offset the loss of SNAP benefits for approximately 18 days. Come day 19, to state it in Morrsey’s own words, there will be a “serious problem.”
West Virginia’s economy cannot afford to lose $46 million per month anymore than the national economy can afford to lose $7 billion. Such a substantial loss of consumer buying-power would have immediate and lasting consequences all across the socio-economic spectrum.
In business unrelated to the federal shutdown or termination of SNAP benefits, on Wednesday, Morrisey announced that he has selected Dr. Patrick Lee Miller to be the inaugural Director of WVU’s new legislatively-created Washington Center for Civics, Culture, and Statesmanship. The House Bill which created WVU’s new department was co-sponsored by Hanshaw, and the new department has been appropriated $1.5 million in annual operating funds by the legislature.
Beyond stating that he had been hired for a five-year term, Morrisey did not discuss Miller’s annual salary during the press conference. However, in a statement released Wednesday afternoon, Morrisey said, “The Washington Center will ensure that the values that made America great are taught with not only honesty, but a sense of pride.”
In addition to making no mention of Miller’s salary, Morrisey made no further request for public donations to assist with paying it.
RealWV will provide updates as to the status of SNAP benefits, the fundraising efforts of Gov. Morrisey and Speaker Hanshaw, and the progress of Dr. Miller as additional information is made available.
