Glenn Youngkin, the MAGA governor, trying to cover for the Trump administration cutting SNAP benefits, is committing the state to provide emergency nutrition assistance once the federal dollars run out on Oct. 31, and is earmarking $1 million – which ain’t much, but it’s something – to Virginia food banks.
“The dereliction of duty on the part of our federal Democrat senators is creating a crisis for the most needy Virginians. It is an extraordinary step for Virginia to provide food benefits in seven-day increments in November, but we must do so because congressional Democrats are putting politics above people,” said Youngkin, who wouldn’t know the truth if it bit him in his dick.
ICYMI
- SNAP benefits may be delayed in November, food crisis ahead for seniors, families
- Glenn Youngkin declares State of Emergency to stop Trump from starving folks
Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia are suing the Trump administration over its political move to suspend food-stamp benefits, which the MAGAs are doing to make people who rely on SNAP benefits to be able to eat and feed their kids into political pawns.
Republicans in Congress are trying to force Democrats to sign on to a funding bill that would have them agreeing to the trillions of dollars in healthcare cuts put into place in the July 4 Big Ugly Bill, which has already forced primary-care facility closures locally, and is about to double the monthly health insurance premiums for hundreds of thousands of Virginians, and tens of millions of Americans.
The thrust of that effort: MAGAs want to take away a campaign issue from Democrats to use against them in the 2026 midterms.
Democrats, for their part, are trying to preserve access to something resembling affordable healthcare for tens of millions of Americans who are otherwise about to find themselves royally screwed.
Against this backdrop, Youngkin is trying to position himself as the hero, when he could take a stand for scores of his voters – and scores more who voted for the other side in the 2021 election – to fight back against the healthcare cuts, and to call foul on holding people who rely on food stamps to be able to eat hostage.
I mean, seriously, we’re to believe that there isn’t money in the federal coffers to keep SNAP as is while the politicos work out their differences on the budget?
Wonder where the money for the $40 billion bailout of Argentina came from.
Not to mention, the $300 million – and you know that’s a low-ball estimate – to build a 90,000-square-foot Trump Ballroom?
ICYMI
In addition to trying to be the hero, Youngkin is desperately trying to take the political heat off the MAGA state ticket, which is already on the verge of big losses in next week’s state elections, which are to take place three days after the Trump administration will cut off the SNAP benefits out of political spite.
A statement from Youngkin in a taxpayer-funded press release issued by his office on Tuesday announcing the emergency effort is the definition of Orwellian.
“Both of Virginia’s U.S. senators are former Virginia governors who know our state well, and they could vote to end this shutdown right now. I once again call on Sen. Mark Warner and Sen. Tim Kaine to end this nonsense and vote to pass a clean CR to open the federal government,” said Youngkin, who is smart enough to know that Republicans have majorities in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, and don’t need a single vote to be able to pass a temporary funding bill.
“While Virginians await our senators’ action, I refuse to let hungry Virginians be used as ‘leverage’ by congressional Democrats,” said Youngkin, who obviously has no problem with Trump and congressional MAGAs using hungry folks as “leverage.”
How the Youngkin political stunt will work
- Current SNAP recipients will receive a weekly comparable state-supported emergency food assistance payment based upon existing eligibility for the SNAP program. Benefits will be issued via the existing electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card that SNAP recipients currently hold.
- Benefits will be issued weekly, not monthly. For example: if a household normally receives $200 for a monthly benefit, a $50 benefit will be issued on a weekly basis. Recipients and households should adjust to this new schedule and plan accordingly.
Details: dss.virginia.gov/snapfacts
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Chris Graham
