SALT LAKE CITY — Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla and members of her caucus are calling on Governor Spencer Cox and Republican legislative leaders to go into special session to fund SNAP.
Specifically, they are asking for Utah to dip into its rainy day fund to pay for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
"This is precisely what our rainy-day funds are intended for: helping Utah families survive difficult times. Thank you for your leadership and for considering this urgent request," said the letter from the Senate Minority Caucus that was shared with FOX 13 News.
Read the letter here:
On Wednesday, Gov. Cox, Senate President J. Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schultz responded with a statement rejecting the idea.
“Congress created this crisis, and Congress has the solution and responsibility to resolve it by prioritizing the American people over politics.
“The state is not structured to bail out Washington, nor can it sustain or fund federal programs. Rainy day funds are intended by law to provide relief during natural disasters and severe economic downturns, not to compensate for dysfunction in Washington, D.C. Using state funds to compensate for federal inaction would rapidly drain reserves and undermine Utah’s long-term fiscal stability.
“Congress is playing politics with people’s livelihoods, putting working families, veterans and essential personnel at risk while leaving critical services unfunded. Utah is taking action by committing up to $4 million to local food banks to ensure Utahns continue to have access to essential food support.”
