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Politico
19-07-2025
- Business
- Politico
Republicans slashed food aid. Grocers in small towns and rural areas are taking the hit.
Between 60 percent and 80 percent of Buche's customers rely on SNAP, accounting for nearly half of his revenue. Buche said he's weighing layoffs in order to keep his doors open. Republican lawmakers, many of whom represent districts with substantial numbers of food aid recipients, defended their megabill, saying the cuts will ultimately help low-income families and their local communities. 'Grocers are good people, hard-working families, and they only make a 1 to 2 percent margin,' said House Agriculture Chair G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.), a top negotiator in the plan to slash SNAP. 'A significant number of people who currently are on SNAP through unemployment will now be climbing a ladder of opportunity, which [means] they'll be able to have more resources to buy more food. So our grocers are going to do well with this.' Thompson said grocers have been 'the victim of fear mongering by the Democrats' and the benefits restrictions will be a boon to their industry. Democrats like Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio) disagree and are exploring ways to mitigate the SNAP cuts through upcoming legislation and negotiations. 'We'll use every tool at our disposal,' said Brown, deputy ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee. 'I know there's been some conversation around a skinny farm bill, and I don't know, candidly, what that will look like. But if there's any opportunity to reverse course or to supplement funds, I will certainly do that.' Several Republican and Democratic state officials have already warned that it will be difficult to backfill the loss of federal dollars. They will need to consider redirecting funds from existing programs, cutting benefits, raising taxes or finding some alternative method to protect their budgets. 'I don't think any state is going to cut [SNAP benefits],' Thompson said. 'If they do, the governors and state legislators that do the cuts are not going to be governors and state legislators for very long.' Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) said that his state is bracing for 'tens of thousands of people' losing access to SNAP. 'The key here is that if we keep enough folks buying at local rural grocery stores, those local rural grocery stores have a higher chance to survive,' Vasquez said. 'We have to make sure folks either have money in their pocket and that states can make up the shortfall in SNAP cuts to preserve that access, or for other folks, provide alternate means to be able to feed them.'
Miami Herald
07-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Questions Raised Over SNAP Costs Being Delayed for Some States
New rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) contained in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) have been questioned by Democratic lawmakers. The bill, which is the centerpiece of President Donald Trump's domestic policy, introduces some new financial commitments for states that fail to hold down erroneous payments. Under the new rules, states would for the first time be required to pay toward the cost of SNAP benefits if they have an error payment rate of above 6 percent, starting in 2028. The U.S. Department of Agriculture currently funds the entire cost of benefits. But carve-outs in the final bill mean that some states may be able to avoid paying, which Democrats have said is "hypocrisy." The SNAP funding changes will mean that many already-strained state budgets will need to pay up if they fail to keep their error rate below 6 percent. As it stands, based on 2024 error rates, 37 states will need to begin paying for a share of benefits, although there is time for states to reduce improper payments before the policy begins in 2028. Under the legislation, starting in the 2028 fiscal year, states can use either 2025 or 2026 error rate to calculate the percentage of benefits it must pay. For 2029 and thereafter, states will use the payment error rate for the third fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the state share is being calculated. For example, in 2029, states will use the 2026 error rate to calculate the share. However, the Republican-backed plan permits a two-year delay in implementation for states with payment error rates of about 13.34 percent or higher—a move Republicans say is intended to help states with high error rates reduce them. Democratic Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Brian Schatz of Hawaii have taken issue with the legislation. Klobuchar said that under the bill, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington, D.C., will be exempt from having to pay for a portion of benefits. Alaska is a key state in the situation. Senator Lisa Murkowski cast a crucial vote for the bill to pass in the Senate last week after she secured the two-year reprieve for the states with the highest error rates. Alaska has the highest error rate in the country at 24.66 percent, which has come down significantly in recent years. Glenn Thompson, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, which oversees SNAP, said the Senate "had to add something to get to address that challenge that Alaska has." "The goal is, from a functionality perspective, they need to get their error rate down as soon as possible, because when the time comes, and they have to start to pay, they don't want to be that high error rate that you're coming in now," he said. But Klobuchar and Schatz have taken issue with the policy, which the Minnesota senator said was "absurd." "The most absurd example of the hypocrisy of the Republican bill: they have now proposed delaying SNAP cuts FOR TWO YEARS ONLY FOR STATES with the highest error rates just to bury their help for Alaska," Klobuchar wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Schatz said he had contacted Hawaii Governor Josh Green regarding the policy, and said the 10 states included in the reprieve are "the ones with the MOST ERRORS in administering the program." Hawaii has made good work of reducing its erroneous payment rate, which now stands at 6.68 percent, a significant drop from 20.94 percent in 2023. "And because he [Governor Josh Green] did good work in reducing the error rate by 15 percent, we are not exempt," Schatz said. Senator Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Democrat,on X following the passage of the OBBBA in the Senate: "In the SNAP program, we have added tribal exemptions for work requirements, delayed cost-share penalties to help Alaska get benefits to the people who need them, and included work requirement waivers that align with our Medicaid policies. We also secured commitments from the Secretary of Agriculture to provide additional flexibilities to Alaska for SNAP. "But, let's not kid ourselves. This has been an awful process—a frantic rush to meet an artificial deadline that has tested every limit of this institution. While we have worked to improve the present bill for Alaska, it is not good enough for the rest of our nation—and we all know it." Senator Brian Schatz, a Hawaii Democrat, on X: "We are being penalized. And if you keep your error rate high you get another year reprieve! This bill is chock full of crazy, stupid policies written in a hurry, some by hand, in the margins of a bill." Related Articles Here's When Each Part of Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Takes EffectWill You Be Better Off Under Trump's Big Beautiful Bill? What to KnowMap Shows How SNAP Bills Would Rise For States Under Trump BillSNAP Benefits Set to Change in Trump's Tax Bill: What to Know 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
02-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Democrat Warned To 'Avoid Vulgar Speak' When Ripping Trump-Backed Bill
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Democratic congressman was chided Wednesday after he accused Republicans of "s*******" on the middle class by trying to shepherd the One Big Beautiful Bill Act through the House of Representatives after it passed the Senate by the barest of margins. Why It Matters The episode underscored the deep tensions surrounding President Donald Trump's flagship legislation, officially named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which has drawn sharp rebuke from Democrats as well as some Republicans ahead of a looming self-imposed July 4 deadline for final passage. The Trump-backed bill aims to make permanent sweeping tax cuts passed during Trump's first term that disproportionately benefit wealthier Americans. It also increases funding for border security and immigration enforcement. The tax cuts and immigration initiatives are paid for largely by deep spending reductions in Medicaid and food assistance programs, which critics say harm working-class, elderly and low-income Americans. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the measure could result in 11.8 million more uninsured Americans by 2034 and add nearly $3.3 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade. Rep. Josh Riley, D-N.Y., listens during the House Agriculture Committee markup the "Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025" in the Longworth House Office Building on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Rep. Josh Riley, D-N.Y., listens during the House Agriculture Committee markup the "Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025" in the Longworth House Office Building on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via AP Images What To Know On Wednesday, while the legislation was being debated in the House of Representatives, Democratic Representative Josh Riley delivered an impassioned speech accusing his colleagues across the aisle of "s******* on the middle class." "Where I come from, we make things," the New York congressman said. "Generations woke up before the crack of dawn, went off to the factory, punched a clock, worked their hands to the bone, came home and counted nickels to make sure they could keep a roof over their kids' heads, keep food on the kids' tables." He went on: "All we've asked for is a fair shot and for this place to stop screwing us over. But you can't help yourselves. You got us into terrible trade deals that made Wall Street rich and shipped all of our jobs overseas. You bail out the banks while neglecting rural America. You rigged the economy so the corporate [political action committees] that are funding your campaigns make huge profits, jacking up costs on folks who can't afford it." "And now this. This bill will kill good, blue-collar manufacturing jobs that we need to rebuild the economy in this country," Riley said. "It closes rural hospitals. It defunds healthcare. All to give trillions of dollars in tax cuts to your cronies." He concluded: "Don't tell me you give a s*** about the middle class when all you are doing is s******* on the middle class." Republican Representative Steve Womack, the debate chairman, stepped in to warn Riley over his language, telling his colleague to "avoid vulgar speak" and adding, "We do have families." This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
The Hill
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Trump, Musk hint at reconciliation
The Big Story President Trump said he thinks he could make amends with tech billionaire Elon Musk, while the Tesla CEO voiced regrets over his public clash with the president. © AP Photo/Evan Vucci Less than a week after the blowup between the two men that grew increasingly dramatic as Musk called for Trump's impeachment and linked him to the Jeffrey Epstein files, the president appeared open to making peace. However, he also suggested that doing so is not a priority for him. 'I guess I could, but you know, we have to straighten out the country,' the president told the New York Post's 'Pod Force One.' 'And my sole function now is getting this country back to a level higher than it's ever been. And I think we can do that. I think we're going to do it easily.' When asked if there was anything he could do to forgive Musk, the president said he has 'no hard feelings' but was surprised by his former top adviser's public criticism of the House-passed tax and spending bill. 'When he did that, I was not a happy camper,' Trump said. Musk earlier on Wednesday also voiced regret for his public feud with the president, saying that it 'went too far' on his social media platform X. The Hill's Alex Gangitano has more here. Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter, we're Miranda Nazzaro and Julia Shapero — tracking the latest moves from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads How policy will be impacting the tech sector now and in the future: Trump, Musk spoke ahead of 'regret' post amid reconciliation talk: Reports President Trump spoke on the phone with tech billionaire Elon Musk late Monday night, according to multiple reports, as allies of both men had urged them to reconcile their feud that exploded last week with a torrent of social media barbs. The New York Times first reported on the call. The White House did not respond to requests for comment about the conversation Musk and Trump had a very public falling out last week after … 2 House panels advance crypto market structure bill A pair of House panels voted Tuesday to advance legislation laying out oversight of the crypto market. The House Financial Services Committee and House Agriculture Committee held separate markups on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, with both ultimately voting to report the bill out of committee. The scenes in the two committees, however, were vastly different. The House Agriculture Committee voted 47-6 to advance … Gabbard: AI used to decide continued JFK files' classification Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said the Trump administration used artificial intelligence (AI) to help determine which documents related to the assassination of former President Kennedy should remain classified. Gabbard, speaking at an Amazon Web Services conference Tuesday, touted how the agency fed tens of thousands of pages of materials into AI systems ahead of their declassification to speed up the otherwise … The Refresh News we've flagged from the intersection of tech and other topics: Crypto Corner Stablecoin bill clears another Senate hurdle © Greg Nash Welcome to Crypto Corner, a daily feature focused on digital currency and its outlook in Washington. The Senate voted Wednesday to advance legislation setting up a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, bringing the crypto bill one step closer to a final vote in the upper chamber. Eighten Democrats voted with almost every Republican to end debate on an updated version of the GENIUS Act. The new bill text was reached as part of lengthy negotiations between Republicans and crypto-friendly Democrats last month, ahead of an earlier procedural vote on the Senate floor. The vote breakdown was largely similar to the May vote, although the bill picked up support from Sens. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.) while Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) switched her vote to oppose the measure. Blunt Rochester had supported the bill both in the Senate Banking Committee in March and on the Senate floor last month. She voiced some hesitation Tuesday about Senate leadership's decision to forgo an open amendment process on the GENIUS Act, emphasizing she hoped to see additional changes to the bill. 'I was really clear,' she told The Hill. 'I hoped that there would be an open amendment process, and that's what I heard Leader Thune say around last month, so I will take a look at this language, and we'll make a decision from there.' Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) ultimately scrapped the push for so-called 'regular order,' as controversial amendments — most notably, Sen. Roger Marshall's (R-Kan.) Credit Card Competition Act — threatened to upend support for the bill. The GENIUS Act likely faces a handful more votes before it can clear the Senate and head to the House. Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) told The Hill on Tuesday that she expects a final vote on the bill next week. In Other News Branch out with other reads on The Hill: Walmart expanding drone delivery service to these 5 cities BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Walmart has confirmed that it will be expanding its drone delivery program, allowing customers in five more cities to order items from the retailer and have them flown right to their doorstep. 'Now, millions of customers in Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando and Tampa will enjoy the convenience of receiving their orders in just minutes,' the release stated. Walmart drone delivery … What Others are Reading Two key stories on The Hill right now: Judges probe whether immunity decision leads to wipeout of Trump conviction An appeals court panel took up President Trump's bid to fight his hush money criminal conviction in federal court Wednesday, acknowledging the extraordinary … Read more Where the 'No Kings' anti-Trump military parade protests are planned Organizers with the 'No Kings' movement are planning some 1,500 demonstrations across the country to protest the upcoming military parade … Read more You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!
The Hill
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Two House panels advance crypto market structure bill
A pair of House panels voted Tuesday to advance legislation laying out oversight of the crypto market. The House Financial Services Committee and House Agriculture Committee held separate markups on the CLARITY Act, with both ultimately voting to report the bill out of committee. The scenes in the two committees, however, were vastly different. The House Agriculture Committee voted 47-6 to advance the legislation after a relatively brief two-and-a-half-hour discussion. The House Financial Services Committee, by contrast, spent nearly twelve hours working through dozens of amendments before reaching a final vote shortly before midnight. The panel was also more split on the bill, with a 32-19 vote to advance the legislation. 'Congress has a historic opportunity to provide the clear regulatory framework needed to unlock this innovation,' House Financial Services Chair French Hill (R-Ark.) said in a statement. 'I am proud that the Financial Services Committee, along with the House Agriculture Committee, took this vital step in advancing the bipartisan CLARITY Act through our Committees,' he continued. 'I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support as this bill is one step closer to becoming law.' The CLARITY Act splits regulation of the digital assets market between two regulators — the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The bill has to be approved by both panels since the House Financial Services Committee oversees the SEC, while the House Agriculture Committee has jurisdiction over the CFTC. The legislation has faced pushback from House Democrats, particularly as President Trump and his family have increasingly expanded their involvement in the crypto space, from meme coins to stablecoins. 'Republicans are jamming through the 'CALAMITY Act,' which not only legitimizes Trump's corruption, but also creates enormous loopholes that expose investors to fraud and weakens our national security,' Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), ranking member on the House Financial Services Committee, said Tuesday. Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, offered a more conciliatory tone while still voicing some concerns about the bill. 'The CLARITY Act is not a perfect bill, but it's an important step forward,' Craig said Tuesday, later adding, 'I still believe while many of us are going to vote here today to advance this legislation that there is still some work to do before it gets to the House floor.' The votes to advance the market structure legislation in the House comes as the Senate prepares to hold another key procedural vote on stablecoin legislation Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) moved to end debate Monday on an updated version of the GENIUS Act, which seeks to create a regulatory framework for stablecoins, teeing up the final few votes on the legislation in the upper chamber.
