CNN host Jake Tapper pressed Democratic New Mexico Rep. Melanie Stansbury on Tuesday about whether Democrats should vote to reopen the government to prevent Americans from losing food assistance.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) distributes food aid to over 40 million Americans and is slated to lose funding on Nov. 1 unless Congress acts. Tapper called out Stansbury on “The Lead with Jake Tapper” for blaming President Donald Trump’s administration for the situation when Democrats can end the government shutdown.
WATCH:
“Should the Democratic senators from New Mexico, your home state, vote to open the government so that these SNAP funds are not at risk?” Tapper asked.
“Let me be clear. The administration is choosing to starve American children with money that they already have appropriated,” Stansbury said. “This is a choice by the White House.”
However, Tapper disputed Stansbury’s argument.
“Congresswoman, this is also a choice by Senate Democrats to not vote to open the government,” he said. “No, it is not!” Stansbury replied as Tapper was still speaking.
“Yes, it is!” Tapper retorted. “I understand why they’re doing it. They’re doing it because they want Medicaid funds restored. They’re doing it because they want Obamacare premiums to be extended past the end of the year. I understand the reasoning.”
Stansbury argued Trump’s White House could continue funding SNAP despite the shutdown. Tapper agreed, but noted that was only a temporary fix, leading the Democrat to insinuate that Tapper did not care about Americans losing their food aid, which the CNN host immediately countered.
“My point is that it’s a short-term solution,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter!” Stansbury shot back. “At the end of the day, people need to be able to feed their families. And Saturday is when those funds run out.”
Tapper suggested Stansbury should push her party to reopen the government if she cared so much about the issue.
“If you feel so strongly, Congresswoman, why not ask the Senate Democrats from New Mexico to vote to open the government?” he asked.
“I am here in the House of Representatives. It is shut down. I am fighting to get the government reopened. I am fighting to get funding put back into SNAP that is already existent,” Stansbury said. “And I am fighting for the American people. I am here. But show me a single Republican that is here. Not a single one is here to make sure that Americans are fed on Saturday. That is why I am here.”
Earlier in the interview, Stansbury suggested that the Trump administration was prioritizing the construction of a White House ballroom and traveling over providing relief to Americans.
“We are four days away from 42 million Americans losing food assistance, as literally the White House is building a $300 million ballroom. And they are choosing to cut off food assistance and SNAP to 42 million Americans,” Stansbury said. “They are going to let seniors, children, veterans, and millions of Americans starve.”
Senate Democrats have repeatedly blocked GOP-led efforts to reopen the government and keep food aid flowing to millions of Americans, refusing to advance any funding bill that excludes their partisan demands, including extending Obamacare subsidies.
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