NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The state of Tennessee will not use any of its over $2 billion “Rainy Day Fund” to pay out Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in November. The federally-run program won’t be offering benefits next month if the federal government stays shutdown.

It’s a cause for concern for many who live here; state data shows nearly 700,000 Tennesseans rely on SNAP to get food on the table each month. Of those, 34,000 live in Knox County.

Previous Coverage: State lawmaker, non-profits preparing for potential loss of SNAP benefits amid government shutdown

Elizabeth Lane Johnson, Gov. Bill Lee’s director of communications, emailed WVLT a statement from the governor on the issue. Like many of his Republican colleagues, Lee put the blame on Democrats in Wa

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