The Indiana State Budget Committee on Oct. 29 voted down a motion calling for the state to allocate $112 million for November food stamps amid a looming lapse in federal funding for the program.

Rep. Gregory Porter, D-Indianapolis, made the motion to urge Gov. Mike Braun or the State Board of Finance to help the nearly 600,000 Hoosiers who will not receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits because of the government shutdown.

If the shutdown is not resolved soon, this would be the first time qualified recipients go without benefits during a government shutdown in recent history.

Some states have looked into filling the gap from their own coffers and Porter said he would like to see the state of Indiana do something to help.

"We have a rainy-day fund," Porter said. "It

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