State Democrats Wednesday responded to Gov. Henry McMaster’s call for South Carolinians to donate to the One SC Fund for food aid ahead of a pending shutoff of federal SNAP dollars amid an ongoing federal government shutdown.
Party leaders say the governor’s plan to encourage philanthropy among residents, rather than to use some discretionary spending power. to directly fund what roundly is expected to be overwhelming strain on the state’s already stretched food bank/food pantry ecosystem, is not nothing, but also isn’t nearly enough to cover what could be more than $100 million a month in lost food aid money.
“We were appreciative today that the governor held a press conference and talked about the SC One Fund,” said State Sen Russell Ott, D-Calhoun. “But I also think it’s very important that everyone understand, that that is not a solution. [It’s] almost like a Band-Aid on a bullet hole.”
If the federal shutdown is still in effect when Saturday comes, SNAP recipients will not get November funds for their EBT cards. Anyone with leftover SNAP money can still use a card until the card runs out, however.
But if the shutdown were to last until December, Democratic lawmakers said Wednesday, it could spell a $108 million shortfall for November that translates into a nearly $200 million loss in consumer spending.
The hit to the economy was a main theme of the Democrats’ message, citing a (now removed) statistic from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that found that every $1 spent from a SNAP account generates $1.80 in economic return to communities.
Democrats also emphasized that they want Gov. McMaster to call the Legislature back to session – which Legislative leaders would have to do – and declare a state of emergency.
The governor stated Tuesday that he would not declare a state of emergency, saying the process would take a long time and “may produce nothing.” He said the fund is the best way forward under current pressures.
The Legislature would also need to appropriate the money and get called back to Columbia by Statehouse leaders to spend it.
Being in such the minority, Democrats can do little else but ask him to change his mind. The other option is to urge residents to call their federal congressional reps and their state legislators to come to session and solve the problem.
An attempt to end the federal shutdown on Capitol Hill failed Wednesday.
If the federal government stays closed after Friday, almost 600,000 South Carolinians will see their federal food aid money freeze indefinitely.
Maayan Schechter contributed to the reporting of this story.
