One of the biggest impacts of the government shutdown is about to hit tens of millions of the poorest Americans hard: the halting of a critical food assistance program. Several states are now warning they will be forced to suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits come Nov. 1 if the shutdown continues. SNAP, often referred to as "food stamps," serves roughly 42 million low-income Americans. The program, run by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, issues electronic benefits that can be used like cash to purchase food. Texas is now warning its millions of recipients that all November SNAP benefits will be halted if the shutdown continues past Oct. 27. Pennsylvania officials say they will also not be able to distribute SNAP benefits if the shutdown -- now in its 21st day -- c

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