West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced on CBS’s Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan that his administration is taking emergency measures, including activating the National Guard, to support the state’s residents impacted by the ongoing disruption to federal aid programs.
The state, where over 270,000 people rely on SNAP benefits, is dedicating significant state resources to prevent hunger. “We’re working by activating the Guard and putting resources at the food banks,” Morrisey stated. He also committed to sending up to $13 million to food banks to address the concerns.
The governor framed his state-level response as necessary due to congressional deadlock, stating, “Our people are hurting right now, and I’m doing everything I can to solve the problems while Washington bickers.”
Morrisey placed the blame for the resources disruption squarely on Senate Democrats, calling it a “Schumer shutdown,” and claiming that the political inaction is preventing aid from reaching those in need. “This shutdown could come to an end right away. It’s up to Chuck Schumer or just having six more Democrats step across the line,” he asserted.
The governor affirmed that the ultimate goal is to “make sure that no one in West Virginia goes hungry,” noting that his state, which has one of the country’s highest poverty rates, was also the location of the very first food stamp pilot program in the 1960s.
The discussion also touched on other efforts, including working with the White House and the Trump administration to address the food issues and other key policies, such as a rural health transformation bill.
READ: Economic Storm Warning: Shutdown Threatens ‘Negative Quarter’ And Military Pay
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