WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate parliamentarian recently dealt a blow to a GOP plan to partially shift the costs of food aid to states to help pay for tax cuts as part of the budget bill, ruling that the change violates Senate rules. The decision could potentially save Alabama millions of dollars.
Senate Republicans proposed lowering the amount states would have to pay for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under the bill compared to the House plan, but states would still have to pay up to 15% of the SNAP benefit costs based on their payment error rates.
Alabama’s most recent error rate of around 7% means the state would be responsible for about $90 million or 5% of SNAP benefit costs. Advocates have warned that the proposal could lead to fewer people receiving benefits and more people going hungry.
The parliamentarian’s rulings are not binding, but are usually followed. However, Republicans could try and rework the language in the bill to find a way to keep the cost-share proposal in the final text of the legislation.
The reconciliation process allows the legislation to pass with a simple majority in the Senate, but the bill must comply with what is known as the Byrd Rule, which does not allow for “extraneous” provisions in it.
“Feeding Alabama was relieved to see the news this weekend that the Senate Parliamentarian said that two of the many harmful SNAP provisions in the reconciliation bill would violate the Senate’s Byrd Rule, but we remain concerned that the Senate will continue to try and work around the Rule,” CEO of Feeding Alabama Laura Lester, said in a statement to Alabama Daily News.
“We hope Congress will realize that taking food away from the thousands of Alabamians who rely on the program would have a devastating impact on families, farmers, grocers and communities.”
Chairman of the Agriculture Committee Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., which oversees SNAP, said the committee is still focused on reforms to the SNAP program to “improve efficiency, accountability and integrity.”
“We are continuing to examine options that comply with Senate rules to achieve savings through budget reconciliation to ensure SNAP serves those who truly need it while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Boozman said in a statement.
The Agriculture Committee’s top Democrat, Sen. Amy Klobuachor of Minnesota, applauded the decision not to allow SNAP costs to be partially shifted to states, which she said would lead to “major cuts.”
“While Republicans’ proposed cuts to SNAP will still be devastating to families, farmers and independent grocers across the country, we will keep fighting to protect families in need,” Klobuchar said in a statement. “Instead of a rushed partisan process, Republicans should work with us to lower costs for Americans and pass a bipartisan Farm Bill that works for all farmers and rural America.”
The GOP proposal to increase the administrative costs that states would be responsible for the food aid program from 50% to 75% still stands in the legislation. The increase would cost Alabama $35 million per year, according to an Alabama Arise estimate.
Republican senators held a closed-door meeting Monday night to discuss the changes to the megabill, including multiple provisions the parliamentarian struck from the legislation for violating the Senate’s rules.
Republicans are expected to release their full, updated text of the budget bill before the Senate votes on the legislation most likely later this week.
Republicans are still trying to get the megabill passed by July 4. The House will have to vote again on the legislation if the Senate passes it.