NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — With just days left before a possible federal shutdown, Tennessee lawmakers are at odds over what to do if the money that helps feed more than 690,000 Tennesseans suddenly stops flowing.

House Democrats this week sent a letter to Gov. Bill Lee calling for a special session to allocate state money to prevent Tennesseans from losing access to food and other federal aid programs. Democratic lawmakers said Tennessee has the financial means to temporarily fill the gap if federal programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program run out of funding.

"Here we are heading into the holidays," said Rep. John Ray Clemmons, chair of the House Democratic Caucus. "Six hundred and ninety thousand Tennesseans are going to sit at an empty table on Thanksgiving? That's unacceptable."

According to the state's latest budget, Tennessee has more than $3.2 billion in federal dollars set aside for SNAP benefits, which provide food assistance to low-income individuals and families. However, there are zero state dollars budgeted to replace those benefits if Washington fails to deliver.

Clemmons said that's a choice, not a limitation.

"We have funding at our disposal to do this," he said. "If they wanted to tap into the Rainy Day Fund, they could. But they won't. They never want to do that."

That Rainy Day Fund currently holds roughly $2.1 billion in reserves.

In a statement to News 2, Gov. Lee's Office said:

Congress has a responsibility to fund the federal government, and as Governor Lee has said, it's disappointing that Democrats have chosen not to reopen it. While the Lee administration continues working with federal agencies to mitigate the impact of a shutdown on hardworking Tennesseans, SNAP is federally funded and operated, and without those federal dollars, the state cannot provide the benefits.

The Governor shares the frustration of Tennesseans who will be impacted by this temporary lapse, and sincerely hopes Democrats will choose to put the American people ahead of politics.

If the federal government shuts down, food benefits could lapse by early November. State officials said they are monitoring the situation closely but have no authority to issue payments without federal authorization.

Clemmons, however, said the point is not Washington's gridlock, but what state leaders can do now.

"People of Tennessee don't want us pointing fingers at each other about who is to blame for a federal government shutdown," Clemmons said. "That's the federal government. D.C. is broken. Let's put politics to the side, step up and show some leadership and do right by Tennessee families. That's all we are asking."

The funding for federal food aid runs out on Nov. 1.

Lee's office maintains it is up to Congress to avoid a shutdown to protect those benefits.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/tennessee-democrats-call-on-gov-lee-to-fill-federal-funding-gaps/