STATEMENT OF SENATOR MATT LESSER, D-MIDDLETOWN, ON DONALD TRUMP’S THREATS TODAY TO DEFY COURT ORDERS AND WITHOLD SNAP FUNDING

“President Trump’s statement today that SNAP benefits ‘will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government’ is in direct violation of federal law regarding congressionally mandated programs as well as Friday’s court orders demanding that he release SNAP funding immediately,” said Sen. Lesser, who is Senate Chair of the Human Services Committee. “We are dealing with an out-of-touch individual who is spending his time re-making White House bathrooms in the image of Saddam Husein’s palace and throwing a “Great Gatsby”-themed party while tens of millions of Americans go hungry. Constituents in my own district did not get their SNAP benefits on Saturday, and they are sick of being pawns in the president’s demented political games. Trump needs to release this funding immediately or face yet another sure-fire loss in court and in the court of public opinion. Given the complete lack of leadership we are seeing at the federal level, the State of Connecticut needs to do more to support our residents, including making state funds available on EBT cards.”