Beshear vetoes resolution that would end state of emergency and apparently reduce $243 monthly food benefit by $100-HEALTHYLIVE

Kentucky Health News 

Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed a legislative resolution that would end the state's Covid-19 state of emergency if the General Assembly overrides his veto. Beshear says the resolution would end the $100-a-month pandemic boost in federal food aid, but legislators say that isn't their intent and he is off base.

“Given that we have zero statewide restrictions, and we haven’t for six months, all this does is hurt these folks by cutting off this extra food aid while doing absolutely nothing else,” Beshear said in a Facebook video in which he signed the veto and asked the legislature not to override it, which it could easily do.

The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy says the average monthly benefit of $243 in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, once called food stamps, would will drop by about $100. The state Cabinet for Health and Family Services said that would affect 544,000 Kentuckians would be affected.

Senate Joint Resolution 150 says "It is not the intention of the General Assembly that this resolution should impair or delay the ability of the Commonwealth to receive any federal stimulus or pandemic-related funds or services." But the Beshear administration says a federal law requires "an emergency or disaster declaration by a state based on an outbreak of Covid-19" for the extra benefits.

The legislature has barred Beshear from declaring another Covid-19 emergency without its permission. It is unclear whether he could declare a disaster. Senate President Robert Stivers said Monday, “If the governor needs something from the legislature, he still has time to come to us and we have time to respond.”

Cabinet spokeswoman Susan Dunlap said the agency advised the chairs of the House and Senate health committee the week of Feb. 28. “COVID continues to impact many families and it is indefensible to take food benefits away from Kentuckians — especially our most vulnerable seniors and children — who already go hungry at a rate higher than the national average,” Dunlap told Austin Horn of the Lexington Herald-Leader. 

"The House passed it overwhelmingly on March 10 despite Democratic legislators on the floor warning about the loss in SNAP benefits. “I'm not really interested in continuing to draw federal funds if they're not deserved or needed,” said Rep. Thomas Huff, R-Shepherdsville, who managed the bill in the House.

Beshear said Wednesday, “It comes down to this simple question: do you want our struggling seniors and kids to be able to afford enough food as we navigate out of this pandemic.” He called SJR 150 “a callous act.”

Early in the legislative session, lawmakers scheduled the state of emergency to end April 15, the deadline for them to adjourn the session. But then the resolution was filed by newly elected Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, who opposed in the May 17 primary election by Andrew Cooperrider, a leader of protests against pandemic restrictions. He has said the resolution is aimed at helping Douglas.

from KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS https://ift.tt/3v9U4Xz

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