Indiana State Budget Committee Rejects SNAP Funding Recommendation

Republicans on Indiana’s State Budget Committee rejected a proposal on Wednesday to allocate state surplus funds to assist low-income Hoosiers and food banks as federal SNAP benefits are set to expire. ”I think there are some options. From what I’m hearing, it’s probably a little too complicated to just be put on our agenda,” said State Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Mishawaka), the State Budget Committee Chair. Rep. Greg Porter urged Indiana leaders to take action to prevent hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers from losing food aid. “We have over $1-2 billion in our surplus. You know, these are tough times. We have a rainy-day fund. It’s storming,” said Porter. The current state budget includes a $300 million contingency fund, but State Budget Director Chad Ranney cautioned that transferring f