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Democrats Oppose Congressional Budget and Tax Cut Bill over Proposed SNAP Cuts

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Democratic leaders, led by US Sen. Amy Klobuchar, are rallying against the congressional budget and tax cut bill, specifically targeting the proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill aims to cut costs by imposing new requirements on states, restricting eligibility, and limiting benefits. Democrats argue that these changes will blow holes in state budgets, leave Americans hungry, and have devastating effects on seniors, children, veterans, and families.

Key Takeaways:

  • The proposed changes to SNAP would require states to contribute a combined $128 billion to the federal food assistance program, with states having to pay more money based on their payment error rates.
  • The bill aims to save the government almost $100 billion by making benefits more difficult to access for low-income families, including bolstering work requirements and restricting eligibility for people in the US without permanent legal status.
  • The proposal also eliminates internet expenses from utility benefit calculations, reducing the amount of money beneficiaries receive each month, expected to save the government $11 billion.
  • The bill's food-benefits provisions have broken a Senate rule, and two of the provisions will require a 60-vote threshold if left in the bill.
  • Democrats cited concerns over the bill's impact on states' budgets, with some governors stating that the cuts would make it nearly impossible for states to effectively plan for long-term budget impacts.
  • The proposed cuts could affect 4 million Americans, including 1 million seniors, 800,000 parents with school-age children, and 1.4 million people living in areas where finding a job is difficult.
  • SNAP beneficiaries receive about $6.20 per person per day, with around 42 million people across the country receiving benefits.
  • Preliminary estimates from the USDA show that around 115,000 Delawareans, 186,000 Kansans, 700,000 Kentuckians, 1.1 million Massachusetts residents, and 360,000 Minnesotans receive monthly SNAP benefits as of March.

Statistics:

  • The proposed changes to SNAP would cost states a combined $128 billion, with some states paying more based on their payment error rates.
  • The bill aims to save the government almost $100 billion by making benefits more difficult to access for low-income families.
  • The proposal would eliminate internet expenses from utility benefit calculations, saving the government $11 billion.
  • The bill's food-benefits provisions have broken a Senate rule, with two provisions requiring a 60-vote threshold.
  • 4 million Americans, including 1 million seniors, 800,000 parents with school-age children, and 1.4 million people living in areas where finding a job is difficult, could be affected by the proposed cuts.
  • SNAP beneficiaries receive about $6.20 per person per day.
  • Around 42 million people across the country receive SNAP benefits.
  • Preliminary estimates from the USDA show that around 115,000 Delawareans, 186,000 Kansans, 700,000 Kentuckians, 1.1 million Massachusetts residents, and 360,000 Minnesotans receive monthly SNAP benefits as of March.

Sources:

  • Klobuchar, Amy. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks to the media on July 19, 2021, following a U.S. Senate Rules Committee hearing on the right to vote at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, Georgia. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)
  • Beshear, Andy. Kentucky Governor Andrew Beshear speaks to the media on July 19, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
  • Healey, Maura. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey speaks to the media on July 19, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
  • USDA. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Persons, March 2023. Retrieved from
  • Kelly, Laura. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly speaks to the media on July 19, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
  • Meyer, Matt. Delaware Governor Matt Meyer speaks to the media on July 19, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
  • Blunt Rochester, Lisa. U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester speaks to the media on July 19, 2021, following a U.S. Senate Rules Committee hearing on the right to vote at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, Georgia. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

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