Despite the risk of over 700,000 Alabamians losing their government food benefits, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) said he hopes Republicans will not "cave" to Democrats' demands in the ongoing political battle over one of the longest shutdowns in U.S. history.
Friday marked the final day for Senate lawmakers to act before funding for SNAP benefits runs out, potentially leaving millions of people nationwide without a means to purchase food.
Following the House's lead, Senate Republicans have attempted to pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government, allowing programs like SNAP to be funded and ensuring that government workers receive their pay. However, Democrats have repeatedly voted it down 13 times, instead pushing for funding for Obamacare subsidies.
"We're going to hold out. And sooner or later, they'll have to come to the table and start negotiating," Tuberville said Thursday on 953 BEAR "Steve & DC Morning Show." "...I feel for a lot of people. A lot of people deserve the SNAP. We need to help the elderly, the sick, the people that really deserve it, that are out of a job, all those things."
The relevant portion begins around the 15:30 mark.
"You know, in Alabama, we have 700,000 people on SNAP. Now, that's probably way too many, considering our percentage. But again, it's hard to distinguish between the good and the people that don't need it. But at the end of the day, we can't let our people go hungry, and especially, you know, just simply for the fact that they're doing it politically on the Democratic side."
He continued, "I'm keeping my fingers crossed that as Republicans, we don't cave because the history shows that Republicans just can't handle the pressure for some reason. But this time, listen, I tell you, the two people that have really stood up to the plate on all this is John Thune, the leader of the Senate. I'll have to give it to him. I didn't think he had it in him, but he does. He came out swinging yesterday, 'Hey, don't point fingers at us. Y'all vote for this thing. Let's get it over with.' The other guy is Donald Trump. He doesn't take anything off anybody."
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