Postcards for Progress

On October 27, Governor Phil Scott issued the following statement regarding access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is also referred to as 3SquaresVT and Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards:

"In the absence of the federal government acting to ensure that millions of vulnerable Americans have access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits they desperately need, states, including Vermont, are contemplating possible steps to support these vulnerable households and their families. These households include low-income families with children, veterans, older Vermonters, and individuals with disabilities.

“Even with state efforts, the lack of federal SNAP funding will disrupt the lives of over 63,000 Vermonters and could cause real harm. This is another area where there is bipartisan support for a lawsuit seeking to require the federal government to release contingency funding it has available for emergencies. I have directed my administration to work with Attorney General Clark to support a multi-state lawsuit."
 

Also, Governor Phil Scott issued a statement October 14 in response to leaked messages from leaders of a national Young Republican group chat, condemning the hate speech and calling for Sen. Sam Douglass to resign, which he ultimately did.
 

Governor Scott has chosen not to appeal the Trump administration’s denial of disaster relief for Vermont in the wake of last summer’s floods. 
 

Rep. Becca Balint, Vice Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, joined Democrats in Chicago for a hearing on ICE attacks on Chicago on October 24. The hearing titled Kidnapped and Disappeared: Trump’s Assault on Chicago was hosted by U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, along with Chicago-area Representatives Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03),  Robin Kelly (IL-02), and Danny K. Davis (IL-07). 
 

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) warned on October 15 that the Republican plan to eliminate subsidies for Affordable Care Act coverage will cause massive health insurance premium hikes for tens of thousands of Vermonters.  According to new data released today by the Vermont Health Connect exchange, if subsidies are not extended, Vermonters could face devastating premium increases starting in January. For example, the monthly cost for a typical Blue Cross plan will increase from $830 to over $3000, and a typical MVP plan will rise from $914 to $3600 per month. 
 

U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) cosponsored bills led by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) to pay all federal employees and service members during the Republican-led shutdown. Republicans blocked both bills.
 

U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) on October 24 led eight Senate colleagues in sending the U.S. Department of State a fourth request for more information and answers on the death of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. She was killed by an Israeli soldier in the West Bank.  
 

On October 27, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) cosponsored Senator Josh Hawley’s (R-Mo.) Keep SNAP Funded Act, which would ensure nutrition assistance will continue despite the ongoing government shutdown.