SNAP vs BSF

SNAP vs. BSF.

This week a simple bill amended with mundane budget corrections fit for a yawn after a second cup of coffee on a Sunday morning, escalated into a fiery debate about using the BSF to cover expiring SNAP benefits linked to the “Schumer Shutdown” on Capitol Hill.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is available to people at or below 130% of the federal poverty level based on their monthly gross income. Ohio requires healthy people to work at least part time for their benefits, with certain exceptions ranging from being the caregiver of an incapacitated person or participating in an alcohol or drug treatment program.

Ohio distributed $3.3 billion in federal SNAP benefits in 2023, and currently the federal government shutdown would cost Ohio taxpayers approximately $263 million a month to keep the benefits flowing with no guarantee of Ohio ever being reimbursed from the federal government if it were to do so.

That brings us to the BSF.

You’ve heard it described as the “Rainy Day Fund.”

In reality it is the Budget Stabilization Fund.

It is not the “Budget Slush Fund.”

The BSF is there to stabilize the two-year operating budget if needed due to economic downturns, and this is important because the Ohio Constitution requires that the budget be balanced. As Senator Terry Johnson pointed out during his speech from the Senate Floor, Ohio can't print money like the federal government, we can’t deficit spend.

Still, Senate Democrats attempted to pass a floor amendment that would use the Budget Stabilization Fund to cover the $263 million for SNAP being held hostage by their counterparts in Washington, D.C.

Why? Was it for political cover because their offices are getting hit with the fallout from the callous decision making of their colleagues on Capitol Hill? Was it an attempt to redirect the narrative to Senate Republicans who they knew wouldn’t allow the BSF to be used for anything but balancing the budget if needed. Or maybe their heart was simply in the right place, wanting to find a way to help those who really need the help.

Regardless, Senator Jerry Cirino who serves as the Senate’s Finance Chair laid down the law during his pointed floor speech. He reminded the minority that this could all be solved if they would simply call their friends in Congress and demand that they stop holding disadvantaged Ohioans hostage over imaginary political points hinging on healthcare benefits for illegal migrants.

But the Democrats tried to interrupt several Republican members on the floor, calling for “Points of Order,” when Chuck Schumer’s name was mentioned. In the end, the amendment failed and your taxpayer dollars within the BSF were protected from being siphoned off because of Senator Schumer’s failing strategy of shutting down the federal government.

Watch highlights of the Senate Republicans floor speeches.

The State of Ohio reminds current SNAP recipients that they may still use the balance of any unused benefits on their SNAP cards during the federal shutdown.

Also, this week Governor Mike DeWine issued an Executive Order that will provide up to $25 million in food assistance. $7 million of that will be directed toward Ohio food banks and up to $18 million will be directed towards emergency benefits potentialy affecting more than 60,000 Ohioans.