The federal government’s failure is now at a tipping point of hurting the most vulnerable Utahns. Since SNAP payments will end on Nov. 1, thousands of our neighbors face hunger during the holiday season. Yes, we as neighbors and friends should donate to food banks. Yes, churches, businesses and others should increase the support they provide. But we should also ask ourselves: Do we really want to be a state that keeps our national parks open for tourists, but is not willing to feed the hungry? If that ends up happening, we have our priorities backward.
Utah has a rainy day fund of approximately $1.5 billion and issues $33 million in benefits each month. I believe that spending 2.2% of our rainy day fund each month until the shutdown is resolved to feed those in need is well worth it.
There are challenges in delivering the funds without the federal government being involved, but challenges should not prevent us from doing the right thing. This is a problem that can and should be solved, because we are better than playing politics on the backs of the most vulnerable among us.
Eric Johnson
Sandy