Groups respond to Gov. Ricketts veto of bill to expand eligibility for SNAP benefits
There’s a focus on fresh, healthy foods at City Sprouts near 40th and Seward in Omaha. “Our kind of main push is to grow food and help distribute it to folks,” said Aaron French, manager of Urban Farm Initiatives. The non-profit also offers education on gardening and cooking. And this week, City Sprouts joined dozens of other groups in supporting LB108, which would expand eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Nebraska lawmakers passed the bill with 33 votes. Then Tuesday, Gov. Pete Ricketts vetoed it, along with two other bills. “We’re disappointed, right, as an organization that works in food access and particularly equitable food access,” French said. The bill would raise the family income level for SNAP eligibility from 130% of the federal poverty level to 165%. That would remain in effect temporarily, through fall 2023. The change would mean, for a family of four, instead of capping out eligibility at an annual income of $34,450, families could make up to $43,725 and still qualify for SNAP. Ricketts called it a bad bill.”Liberal expansions of welfare benefits, that will discourage people from working,” he said in a video posted to social media. Aubrey Mancuso, Executive Director of Voices for Children said this bill would do the opposite: offer an incentive for people to take a slightly higher paying job or a raise, without the risk of losing food assistance. And, she said the net income limit would remain in place. “Families with higher expenses related to things like child care and medical care can continue to qualify for food assistance, even if their income limit is a little above where we set it right now,” she said. Mancuso said the program does have work requirements and is federally funded. French pointed to other benefits of broadening SNAP access, like programs that incentivize the purchase of fresh produce. “Programs like the SNAP Double Up Food Bucks program which at certain farmers markets, if you spend $1 in SNAP, you can get $2 worth of produce. So we’re building this kind of infrastructure to support people who are on SNAP,” he said, “Which has always been a temporary food assistance program, right, to help bridge a gap in economic needs or life situations.”There has been broad support for LB108, from the Nebraska State Education Association to the Catholic Conference and the Grocery Association.The bill now needs 30 votes to override a veto. “So I think a lot of folks really recognize that this is a win-win for families, for communities, for businesses,” Mancuso said.
There’s a focus on fresh, healthy foods at City Sprouts near 40th and Seward in Omaha.
“Our kind of main push is to grow food and help distribute it to folks,” said Aaron French, manager of Urban Farm Initiatives.
The non-profit also offers education on gardening and cooking.
And this week, City Sprouts joined dozens of other groups in supporting LB108, which would expand eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Nebraska lawmakers passed the bill with 33 votes. Then Tuesday, Gov. Pete Ricketts vetoed it, along with two other bills.
“We’re disappointed, right, as an organization that works in food access and particularly equitable food access,” French said.
The bill would raise the family income level for SNAP eligibility from 130% of the federal poverty level to 165%.
That would remain in effect temporarily, through fall 2023.
The change would mean, for a family of four, instead of capping out eligibility at an annual income of $34,450, families could make up to $43,725 and still qualify for SNAP.
Ricketts called it a bad bill.
“Liberal expansions of welfare benefits, that will discourage people from working,” he said in a video posted to social media.
Aubrey Mancuso, Executive Director of Voices for Children said this bill would do the opposite: offer an incentive for people to take a slightly higher paying job or a raise, without the risk of losing food assistance.
And, she said the net income limit would remain in place.
“Families with higher expenses related to things like child care and medical care can continue to qualify for food assistance, even if their income limit is a little above where we set it right now,” she said.
Mancuso said the program does have work requirements and is federally funded.
French pointed to other benefits of broadening SNAP access, like programs that incentivize the purchase of fresh produce.
“Programs like the SNAP Double Up Food Bucks program which at certain farmers markets, if you spend $1 in SNAP, you can get $2 worth of produce. So we’re building this kind of infrastructure to support people who are on SNAP,” he said, “Which has always been a temporary food assistance program, right, to help bridge a gap in economic needs or life situations.”
There has been broad support for LB108, from the Nebraska State Education Association to the Catholic Conference and the Grocery Association.
The bill now needs 30 votes to override a veto.
“So I think a lot of folks really recognize that this is a win-win for families, for communities, for businesses,” Mancuso said.
