Food Should Not Be Political, Rep. Brownlee Condemns House Passage of SNAP Funding Proposal

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Karen Brownlee (D-Symmes Twp) today issued the following statement on House Bill (HB) 730 and proposed changes to SNAP administrative funding that fails to meet the need and would leave thousands of Ohioan veterans, children, and community members hungry.

“It is shameful that Republicans are playing partisan politics with people’s lives,” said Rep. Brownlee. “By cutting SNAP benefits to the most populous counties, they are cutting off a lifeline for babies and children, families, and veterans. Elected officials have a choice in how they treat Ohioans, and this choice hurts our voters.”

More than 60% of SNAP recipients live in Ohio’s largest counties, yet the Republican-passed proposal would ensure that those counties in Ohio would receive only about 20% of the state funding allocated. Over half a million children and 45K Ohio veterans rely on SNAP. 

Underfunding caseworkers also risks costly errors that could jeopardize federal SNAP dollars and make groceries even less affordable for Ohio families. This plan moves away from a fair, needs-based funding formula and could lead to higher local taxes or service cuts.

At a time when Ohio families are struggling with the rising cost of groceries, rent, and utilities, this proposal shifts more costs onto counties and makes it harder for people to access basic food assistance.

Rep. Brownlee believes that the legislature should restore a fair, needs-based funding approach that protects food assistance, supports counties, and helps Ohio families keep up with the cost of living.