Democrats Dragging Out Shutdown Hold Poor, Hungry Families Hostage

Progressives keep poor families trapped in a cycle of government dependency, and yet they continue to shut down the federal government—harming the very struggling Americans they claim to care for most.

Meanwhile, conservatives support a safety net to offer a hand up to support people bouncing back from difficult times. Unfortunately, Democrats are hijacking this social safety net through the continuing shutdown.

As Democrats continue dragging on the shutdown, all 50 states are likely to face job losses, reduced consumer spending, and disruptions to vital programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Women, Infants, and Children.

WIC benefits for nearly seven million women and children run dry this month. 

As a young girl, I knew the hunger pangs of poverty. Due to my father’s severe mental illness, my parents moved my seven siblings and I to live in sheds, motor homes, tents, and motels.

My family spent time on government food stamps. As an adult, Medicaid saved me from dropping out of college to pay for emergency medical care. I know there is a powerful role for our public safety net to protect vulnerable Americans, especially children. Unfortunately, as Senate Democrats keep our government shut down, they harm the millions of people who rely on food support.

A new report from the Council of Economic Advisers shows the harsh impacts of an extended government shutdown. Each week the shutdown drags on, the economists report, will destroy an estimated $15 billion in the U.S. gross domestic product. A monthlong shutdown could create 43,000 more unemployed Americans.

Democrats’ shutdown is already hurting working families nationwide and shutdown anxiety plagues millions more.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is keeping the government shut to appease his far-left base and avoid a primary challenge from leftist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.

Yet in his own state of New York, the Schumer Shutdown threatens food access for Long Island’s most vulnerable residents.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports more than 100,000 Georgians could be directly affected as residents worry over suspended federal services.

Struggling families in Hawaii risk losing meal support during the Democrats’ shutdown.

Kansas City SNAP & WIC recipients grow more anxious about the government shutdown. In Kentucky veterans’ benefits are at risk of disruptions.

A Maryland CBS affiliate reports, “residents who rely on federally funded food assistance programs … are concerned.”

If the Democrats’ shutdown continues, local Minnesota press report, “the poorest Minnesota residents will soon feel the full brunt of the government shutdown.” 

Schools in North Carolina may be forced to restrict low-income students’ access to meals.

The director of No Kids Hungry in Virginia told a Richmond TV news station that the shutdown will impact “new mothers, babies, young children, who use that money to buy things like formula, and fresh produce … this could be serious the longer the shutdown goes on.”

Concern among Virginia food banks rises as leaders say they might be unable to provide for people in need during the shutdown because of swelling demand.

In Washington State, local media reports a “nutrition program for babies and mothers is at risk during federal shutdown.”

Yet Senate Democrats repeatedly refuse to vote for a funding bill to reopen the government.

It’s no wonder that recent polling shows nearly 60% of Americans hold unfavorable views of the Democratic Party, the lowest favorability for Democrats in 35 years.

Democrats rob poor, pregnant women so that wealthier Americans earning up to $600,000 a year keep their Obamacare health insurance tax breaks. Under the Republican-passed spending bill, which Democrats refuse to consider, poor and middle-class families still receive health care subsidies. Democrats want to keep them for rich families.

Democrat lawmakers must stop holding hungry families hostage and end the shutdown now.

Carrie Sheffield is a senior policy analyst at Independent Women’s Voice and author of “Motorhome Prophecies: A Journey of Healing and Forgiveness.”

We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal.

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