This story was initially printed by the Louisiana Illuminator.

Practically 800,000 individuals who rely on federal meals assist will see no interruption in these advantages for November, based on Gov. Jeff Landry. 

They embody the aged, disabled and households with kids who depend on the Supplemental Diet Help Program, which the Trump administration has mentioned won’t present advantages beginning Saturday amid the continuing federal authorities shutdown.

However one other 53,000 “able-bodied” SNAP recipients who aren’t in a kind of classes should lean on their native meals banks so long as the shutdown persists, based on the governor. 

Landry mentioned at a information convention Wednesday his well being division will discover the cash to cowl $147 million in advantages subsequent month for the aged, disabled and kids. These recipients sometimes get their SNAP disbursements on the primary few days of the month.

As for different recipients, the governor mentioned he would supply extra particulars Thursday on a plan to make sure meals banks are in a position to meet their wants. 

“We’ve been speaking to the meals banks during the last week about what it’ll take to bulk up provides, to cost up the availability chain of getting extra meals to the meals banks to organize for households. They’re in that course of,” Louisiana Well being Secretary Bruce Greenstein instructed reporters after the governor’s information convention.  

The governor’s plans don’t mesh with earlier statements from Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, who had indicated advantages can be offered to all Louisiana SNAP recipients.  

Henry instructed reporters earlier within the day that whereas the aged, kids and disabled would get meals help first, different SNAP contributors would get theirs by way of the rest of the month. He did acknowledge that Landry has last say in how the state spends the cash. 

Henry and Home Speaker Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, stood on the governor’s aspect on the information convention the place he laid out his plans for SNAP advantages disbursement.

Henry and state lawmakers had simply concluded a one-week particular session Thursday to maneuver again 2026 congressional main election dates. Earlier than adjourning, they accredited a decision to assist Landry’s use of a reserve income fund for SNAP advantages if the deadlock in Washington, D.C., extends into December. Henry mentioned the legislature’s motion wasn’t essential for the governor to make use of the Income Stabilization Belief Fund, which has a stability of about $2 billion.

The legislative decision confronted no opposition because it went by way of the approval course of till Wednesday, when Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, voted in opposition to it. Morris instructed senators that whereas he didn’t take concern with their assist for the measure, he feels there’s a “gun being pointed to our head by the federal authorities.”

“This isn’t our program,” Morris mentioned earlier than the vote. “Should you step again and take a look at it from a distance, it’s ridiculous that we’re being pressured to bail out the biggest supply of wealth on the earth … the US authorities. I feel it units a foul precedent.”

Whereas Morris stored his arguments get together impartial, Sen. Valarie Hodges, R-Denham Springs, laid blame for the federal government shutdown on the ft of U.S. Senator Minority Chief Chuck Schumer. The New York Democrat is keen to let veterans and kids go hungry fairly than compromise, she mentioned. Her feedback had been just like these later within the day from the governor, who referenced the “Schumer Shutdown” and mentioned he can be liable for any issues Louisiana had in dispersing its meals advantages.
Congressional Democrats say they won’t vote to reopen the federal government except Republicans agree to increase subsidies for medical insurance plans beneath the Reasonably priced Care Act, which expire on the finish of the yr.  

In response to Hodges’ remarks, Henry offered a rundown of the variety of SNAP recipients within the districts of Democratic and Republican senators. All fell within the 20,000 vary. 

“Should you’re attempting to place Ds and Rs on this, it ain’t gonna work,” Henry mentioned.  

Each chambers additionally accredited nonbinding resolutions that urge Congress to finish the federal authorities shutdown and refund the cash Louisiana spends on SNAP advantages.

A leaked memo from the U.S. Division of Agriculture signifies states that step in to cowl federal meals help won’t be reimbursed.

Landry was requested if he thinks the federal authorities will ultimately reimburse Louisiana for offering a bridge whereas SNAP advantages are suspended. The governor mentioned he had spoken just lately to U.S. Home Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Chief Steve Scalise, each of Louisiana, who he mentioned agreed that the state’s prices needs to be lined.

“The query is, proper now, we are able to’t get Democrats within the Senate to agree on something,” Landry mentioned.

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