Kemp Rejects Idea To Spend $14B Surplus To Fund SNAP Amid Government Shutdown

ATLANTA, GA — The month-long battle in Congress over the Trump administration's budget and subsequent government shutdown has expanded to Georgia as Gov. Brian Kemp pushes back against pressure from a state lawmaker to use $14.6 billion in surplus funds for food assistance.

“We’re not going to bail the federal government out," Kemp told WRBL on Wednesday. "We can’t do that. We don’t have enough continuous funds to be able to do that. We don’t even know if we did that if we’d get that money reimbursed.”

The Atlanta Community Food Bank on Thursday said it is planning to tap into $5 million of its reserves to buy 6 million pounds of emergency food as part of a crisis response plan. The bank operates four community food centers in metro Atlanta.

“These are incredibly unstable and uncertain times that leave our most vulnerable neighbors at risk,” said Kyle Waide, president and CEO for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. “It is more critical than ever that we take immediate action to ensure that the children, families and seniors in our communities continue to have access to nutritious food and vital resources.”

Meanwhile, Georgia-based federal lawmakers in both parties have said this week that innocent children could face hits because of the back-and-forth in Congress.

More than 1.4 million Georgians who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will lose their aid on Saturday, Nov. 1, amid a persistent government shutdown on Capitol Hill.

The shutdown, which began Oct. 1, is now the second-longest federal government closure on record. The issue at hand: expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits Democratic senators say affects 1.4 million Georgians.

While the Republican administration took steps leading up to the shutdown to ensure SNAP benefits were paid this month, the cutoff would expand the impact of the impasse to more Americans — and some of those most in need — unless a political resolution is found in just a few days.

U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-GA, on Wednesday warned that Head Start programs benefitting low-income Georgian families could start to see effects. His office sent Democratic U.S. Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff a letter urging them to reopen the government.

“Instead of holding hardworking Georgia families hostage, I urge you to act immediately to end the government shutdown and keep Head Start programs open and operational so that no child in Georgia loses access to the care and education they deserve," Carter said.

He added five Georgia Head Start programs will lose federal funding come Saturday.

But Metro Atlanta CEO on Wednesday reported three of Georgia's largest Head Start providers have been granted a temporary bridge loan from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta to stay open for 45 days amid the shutdown. They are YMCA of Metro Atlanta, Sheltering Arms and Easterseals of North Georgia.

Placing Blame

Kemp, a Republican, blames Georgia Democrats for not reopening the government in what he called the "Schumer Shutdown."

"It is outrageous that Democrats like Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are doing everything but voting to reopen the government," Kemp said in a Facebook post published Wednesday.

Warnock most recently condemned the U.S. Department of Agriculture for not utilizing $5 billion he said is sitting in a federal SNAP contingency fund to provide food assistance.

He and Ossoff have vowed to protect health-care premiums in Georgia. They have been debating with GOP congressional leaders about Affordable Care Act tax credits, which offer health-care assistance.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the credits will expire at the end of the year if Congress does not agree on a decision to extend the credits.

"1.4 million Georgians could see their premiums skyrocket next year if ACA subsidies expire," Ossoff tweeted on Oct. 8, a week after the shutdown began.

In a followup tweet on Oct. 23, he said, "If ACA tax credits expire at the end of the year ... hundreds of thousands of Georgians could be forced off their health insurance."

But amid the debate surrounding the ACA subsidies, children have become "pawns" in the battle, Warnock said.

"They're (the USDA and the Trump administration) deciding to put hungry people against sick people, and I think that's immoral," he said. "… But while we debate about what to do about these ACA subsidies, it is indisputable that the USDA, under the Trump administration, is choosing to pull hungry children into this fight. They're not just in this fight. They're being pulled into this fight, used as pawns for short-term political gain. I think it's deeply immoral, and I think we can certainly do better than that."

In a previous tweet, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-GA, tweeted accusations that Warnock and Ossoff were holding up the bill to fund the budget.

GA Lawmaker Calls On Kemp To Intervene, But He Declines

In Georgia, Democratic State Sen. Nabilah Parkes has advocated for Kemp to use a $14.6 billion surplus to aid a potential food crisis.

She announced that her office sent Kemp a letter on Monday asking he declare a state of emergency, as other states have, and tap into the surplus.

"He has the sole authority to declare this emergency and make sure SNAP benefits are funded. Food is not optional and we have a moral obligation to see to it that no Georgia family goes hungry," Parkes wrote on Facebook.

"Georgia has a $14.6 billion surplus and we have the resources readily available to prevent food insecurity for 1.4 million Georgians including our seniors, children and working families. Both Virginia and Louisiana have issued State of Emergencies to cover November funding gaps. We need to safeguard the health and well being of our most vulnerable families including 640,000 children. If the Governor so chooses, he can prevent vulnerable Georgians from going hungry. We are waiting for his response."

Kemp retorted if he releases the state funds for SNAP assistance, he may be called upon to do the same for other federal programs suffering due to the government shutdown, he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

In the report, he gave the example of helping early learning programs, agents with the Transportation Security Administration, the National Guard and the military.

“Let’s get the government reopened so we can pay everybody," Kemp told the AJC. "That’s the easiest thing for them to do, because I can’t fix all the problems that them not doing their job are going to create. It’s never-ending."

The federal Agriculture Department, in a memo, said other impacted programs include the Women, Infant and Children's Program and the Child Nutrition Program. The latter funds school lunch and breakfast programs.

As of Wednesday, the state WIC program was not affected by the shutdown, the Georgia Department of Public Health South Health District said.

However, benefits could eventually be disrupted the further Congress carries out the shutdown. Health officials noted recipients would be contacted by WIC staff if this changes.

The Agriculture Department confirmed states jumping into the fight to combat the loss of SNAP will not see their money federally returned.

"Despite their willingness, states cannot cover the cost of benefits and be reimbursed" as SNAP is "fully federally funded," the Agriculture Department said. " ... There is no provision or allowance under current law for states to cover the cost of benefits and be reimbursed."

The prospect of families not receiving food aid has deeply concerned states run by both parties.

Officials in Louisiana, Vermont and Virginia pledged to keep food aid flowing to recipients in their states, even if the federal program is stalled next month because of the government shutdown.

Other states’ attempts to use their own funds to support the program have faced technical hurdles, and it's uncertain if the three new plans can overcome these.

The Georgia Department of Human Services confirmed the suspension did not affect October benefits, and that benefits could still be used before Nov. 1.

Where To Find Help Amid Shutdown

Georgia officials have created an online hub of resources for federal workers affected by the shutdown. Congresswoman Lucy McBath, representing Georgia's sixth district, also shared online resources for impacted federal workers.

Workers needing assistance with food may benefit from the Georgia Emergency Food Assistance Program.

"When the federal government shuts down, families, federal workers, and seniors suddenly face tough choices. Together, we can help families stay nourished through the unexpected," the ACFB tweeted on Oct. 7, shortly after the shutdown was announced.

Feeding Georgia operates food banks statewide, including the ACFB and Second Harvest Coastal Georgia.

A list of local food banks are available via the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

For more information on SNAP, Georgians can visit the Georgia Department of Human Services website.

• RELATED: GA SNAP Benefits Won't Go Out In November, Officials Confirm