On May 13, Governor Tina Kotek spoke out against House Republicans’ proposed “shortsighted and harmful cuts” to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“When you cut SNAP, you’re not cutting bureaucracy, you’re cutting a child’s dinner,” Kotek told reporters. “You’re cutting their breakfast, you’re cutting their family’s dignity.”
Kotek was joined by Oregon’s US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, as well as Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, Vermont Senator Peter Welch, and New Mexico Senator Ben Ray Luján.
The House Agriculture Committee proposed a plan to change state contributions to cover benefits and administrative expenses.
The monthly income limit in Oregon is $2,510 for individuals and $5,200 for families of four, effective through September.
According to a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, one in every six Oregonians received SNAP benefits during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024. Benefits averaged $5.77 per day for each household member.
What changes to SNAP are House Republicans proposing?
The proposal would require states to pay 5% of benefit costs beginning in the budget year 2028. Currently, states do not pay benefit costs and bear 50% of administrative costs. The bill would increase states’ administrative cost responsibility to 75%.
The plan also proposes that states with error rates of 6% or higher bear a greater share of the costs.
Oregon received a $15.7 million fine last year for exceeding the national error rate. Based on Oregon’s 2023 error rate, the state would bear 20% of benefit costs under the proposal.
The House Committee on Agriculture stated that the proposed changes would increase state accountability and efficiency.
According to a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Oregon could incur additional costs of $79 million or $397 million in fiscal year 2026 if states share 25% of SNAP costs.
“We do not have the kind of money that it would take to maintain the program at the current level if these cuts go through,” Mr. Kotek said. “It will just not happen and people will go hungry in Oregon.”
SNAP recipients aged 18 to 65 without disabilities or dependent children under the age of seven would be required to work at least 80 hours per month, with some exceptions.
Potential Medicaid changes also a concern
Proposed Medicaid changes align with efforts to implement significant tax cuts.
“I’m outraged by the proposed Medicaid cuts. “It’s a reckless plan that will harm people and the Oregon health-care system,” Kotek said in a statement on May 13. “One-third of Oregonians rely on Medicaid, or the Oregon Health Plan, for health insurance. “That’s 1.4 million neighbors and loved ones.”
Wyden described the cuts as “a prescription for a sicker America.”
Merkley warned that the changes would harm children’s education and development. He said he hoped some Republicans would join the “hell no caucus” and oppose the cuts.
“What Republicans are trying to do is just kill these programs,” Luján said about the proposed SNAP and Medicaid cuts.
