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Will County lobbyists outline federal shutdown impacts on SNAP, TSA and end-of-year bills
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Summary
John Baer of Smith Garson told the Will County Legislative Affairs Committee the federal government shutdown had reached its 35th day and was affecting SNAP payments and year-end legislation.
John Baer, a senior associate with the Smith Garson lobbying firm, briefed the Will County Legislative Affairs Committee on federal developments tied to the continuing partial government shutdown, telling the committee the shutdown had reached its 35th day and that negotiators were discussing a three-part package that could include a guaranteed vote on health-care subsidies, a short-term funding extension and a smaller military construction and agriculture package.
"We are now on day 35 of the shutdown," Baer said. He said negotiators were working on a bill that would "guarantee a vote on the Obamacare subsidies by the end of the year" while also debating the timing for a short-term funding measure.
Baer told members a district court had ordered that SNAP benefits be paid during the shutdown in at least some cases; he said the White House reported it would use contingency funds in some instances, and that availability could vary by state. "They've said that they are able to pay for half of it, depending state by state," Baer said. He also noted the White House had posted messages indicating a preference not to disburse certain benefits until an agreement reopened the government.
Brett of Smith Garson emphasized local impacts the shutdown can cause because congressional staff and agency technical experts are often absent: "Staff and committees on the Hill rely on a lot of people at federal agencies for technical expertise when they're drafting legislation and understanding the impacts. Some of those people are likely furloughed and cannot respond." He warned that transportation, the Water Resources Development Act, and the farm bill could face schedule shifts because of missing staff, committee activity and delayed approvals.
Both lobbyists told the committee there were active discussions about funding TSA agents through the busy Thanksgiving travel season; Baer said airline safety leaders had warned that unpaid agents could force closures of some air operations. "There are talks on the Hill about potentially passing a smaller deal that would fund TSA agents through this busy season," he said.
No formal action was taken on these briefings. Committee members asked the lobbyists to provide a written summary of veto-session bills that passed and to flag items that created tax increases or potential unfunded mandates for local government.
