OP ED
By: Senate Republican Leader Bill Sharer, District 1
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP was designed to assist people and their families facing food insecurity and economic hardship. The program’s intended purpose was to temporarily alleviate financial burdens for those in need which would allow them to get back on their feet in order to eventually provide for themselves and their families. Here in New Mexico, this program is utilized by approximately 460,000 people, marking the highest participation rate per capita in the country.
What troubles me, and should trouble every New Mexican –especially those receiving SNAP benefits– is that our state’s two Democrat U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich have chosen to hold those using SNAP hostage as political pawns in their attempt to negotiate deals on Capitol Hill rather than ensuring New Mexicans in need have food on their tables. It’s truly disgusting and shameful.
Furthermore, by voting against reopening the federal government, Luján and Heinrich are also denying New Mexico’s federal government employees a paycheck which now places those families in tough economic situations. Again, what a shame it is when politics are more important than real people.
While the Democrat Shutdown continues, states are having to fill the gap with their own funds. Fortunately for New Mexico, our state’s bountiful oil & gas industry’s revenues allow us to step in and temporarily provide benefits for New Mexicans despite the negligence of Luján and Heinrich as they prolong the federal government shutdown.
I find it extremely important to support legislation that ensures New Mexico families facing food insecurity will have food on their tables throughout this holiday season. That’s what leadership is all about: stepping in when others (Luján and Heinrich) refuse to do so.
I do, however, think we should approach this situation using common sense. For example, we as tax-paying New Mexicans should have an audit of our state’s SNAP program to ensure people are not fraudulently gaming the system to receive benefits they do not qualify for. It’s no secret that people cheat the system and lie about employment status, real income, or household member counts. If we are providing these assistance benefits, they ought to go to people truly in need. Next, I believe that SNAP benefits should be available for the scope of necessary commodities like ground beef or chicken rather than soft drinks and candy. If you need help feeding your family, the focus should be on providing healthy nutrition for your family, not empty carbs. Lastly, we need to crack down on the black market resale of EBT balances. Again, these benefits are to help folks feed their families and should NOT be used to purchase or trade for drugs, alcohol, etc.
Let us come together and overcome the negligence of our Democrat U.S. Senators through a lens of common sense AND compassion.