Background on the Issues
STATE LEVEL: Thank you, Washington State Legislators, for protecting funding to help hungry families!
With the assistance of a few more hours in a double overtime special session, the Legislature passed a supplemental budget on Wednesday morning! Here is a summary of what the budget entails:
- State Food Assistance is saved! This program that provides food stamps to legal, documented immigrants who are otherwise ineligible for federal food stamps was targeted for elimination because of an estimated savings of $13 million. Luckily, key members in leadership positions were fantastic advocates. The slight downside is that this means that the 50% cut in funding that was made when the budget was written during the 2011 session can now take effect. The campaign for restoring full benefits starts NOW.
- NONE of the other nutrition assistance programs including EFAP, Farmers Market Nutrition Program for WIC and Seniors, and funding for school meals has been cut in any way! (Note—EFAP did not receive the extra $1.5 million that the Gov. proposed to give to food banks to help make up for the cuts to other services.)
- We’ve got a little bit of revenue! The Legislature will be ending tax loopholes for out-of-state banks and we will raise an estimated $12 million from taxes on roll-your-own cigarette machines.
Legislators came to a compromise on a major sticking point—ending pensions for early retiring state employees by agreeing on a 50% cut in pension benefits for those who retire at age 55. Pension benefits for public workers have already suffered from cuts in the past, but the latest cut will only apply to those employees who start work after May 2013. An additional $238 million was saved from the debt by approving an accounting maneuver that allows the state to hold on to some local and municipal sales taxes a little longer before returning them to local governments.
Northwest Harvest thanks each legislator who voted for this budget that maintains support for Washington’s hungry families! [TAKE ACTION]
FEDERAL LEVEL: Attacks on SNAP
Washington, like the rest of our nation, can’t afford any cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Cuts to the program will mean less food for hungry families, longer lines at food bank and meal program doors, and the loss of thousands of jobs here in Washington due to the loss of economic activity that food stamps generate . Yet both the Senate and the House are continuing to consider proposals that will make drastic cuts to the program. Here’s an update and some information on how you can participate in ongoing efforts to educate Congress on the need to strengthen SNAP, not cut it.
House Reconciliation Act
- The House passed a bill on Thursday that would make $36 billion in cuts to SNAP over the next 10 years. Here in Washington, the proposed cuts would drop benefits by over $100 for a minimum of 200,000 households, thanks to the elimination of the Heat and Eat option and ending an economic stimulus boost in SNAP benefits called the ARRA boost. The proposed cuts would also mean the total loss of nutrition assistance for families who otherwise have high costs in utilities, childcare and housing by eliminating the Categorical Eligibility option. Even though this is not expected to pass in the Senate, this proposal has triggered discussion for a similar reconciliation bill in the Senate.
Farm Bill 2012
- The Senate Agriculture Committee passed a Farm Bill proposal that will make $4.6 billion in cuts to SNAP over the next 10 years. The cut is made by proposed changes to the Heat and Eat program, and if passed, it will mean the loss of $90 in benefits for a minimum of 200,000 Washington households. The bill has not yet been moved to the calendar for a floor debate and vote by the entire Senate, but if it does, we can hope to see several amendments to restore the cuts to SNAP from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).
- The House Agriculture Committee had a subcommittee hearing on SNAP and other programs in the Nutrition title, including TEFAP, CSFP and programs that increase SNAP access at farmers markets on Tuesday. The committee is currently seeking public comments on what should be in their proposal for the Farm Bill, but as of now, there is not a bill that is slated for a committee hearing.
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2012 Legislative Session Tracking
Below are a few of the legislative issues Northwest Harvest will be tracking and advocating for at the start of the November 2012 Session of the Washington State Legislature.
Save the State Food Assistance Program (SFA)
The State Food Assistance program extends the positive reach of food stamps to thousands of our newest Washingtonians who are not eligible for the federal program. Eliminating this program would deal another setback to local communities and increase hunger in our state. Elimination of the SFA will jeopardize the lives of 14,000 legal immigrants who have no other safety net program to help them put food on their tables. In fact, during the 2011-2013 biennium to date, SFA has cost the state significantly less to operate than anticipated during the 2011 legislative session. The Legislature should appropriate $4 million in added funds to maintain benefits for 100% of the existing SFA caseload.
Preserve Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)
The FMNP enables low income mothers with children and seniors to buy fresh, locally sourced produce at farmers markets. Families with young children and seniors make up more than half of the clients served by NWH’s Partner Programs. Elimination of this program to save a mere $100,000 in the budget will actually cost the state an additional $850,000 in federal funds for this program. Importantly, FMNP not only helps these vulnerable populations but it also benefits local farmers who participate in markets.
Support WSDA Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP)
EFAP provides crucial funding for food, staff and transportation for local food banks across the state. At a time of record need for food bank services and when cuts to other safety net services will lead even more families to their doors, it is paramount that the state continues its strong support of Washington’s emergency food system. Last year food banks receiving EFAP funds served over 1.5 million clients in need, a 32% increase since 2007.
Maintain Childhood Nutrition Funding
The $6 million reduction in funding for school meal programs resulted in the loss of 3 cents reimbursed to schools for each lunch served. Further reductions will mean the elimination of reduced cost co-pays for breakfasts and lunches, making it expensive for working poor families to make sure that their children don’t skip meals while at school. We can combat childhood obesity while improving school performance and reducing behavioral problems by protecting these funds from further reductions.
Save Important Safety Net Programs: Disability Lifeline, Apple Health & Basic Health
The number of Washington households reporting food insecurity has doubled since the start of the recession. Hungry families need the support of these important safety net programs that provide income to people with disabilities who can’t work and that provide health insurance for working adults and for children in order to have more income for putting food on their tables.
For more information, including how to get involved with Northwest Harvest’s advocacy work, please contact Christina Wong, Public Policy Manager, at 206-923-7465 or christinaw@northwestharvest.org. You can also sign up to receive email alerts below.
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