Letters: SNAP cuts are nothing to be proud of; Fair, transparent redistricting process needed
Let's set the record straight.
This bill does not restore integrity of SNAP; it guts the program by cutting $300 billion in federal funding.
This bill will hurt farmers and especially rural communities. SNAP recipients spend their benefits in local grocery stores, so SNAP dollars support jobs involved in producing, transporting, and marketing food.
Food security means access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. Without food security, children are at greater risk of poor health and development (Economic Research Service, USDA, 2013). Along with cuts to Medicaid, the plight of low-income families will be worse, as families face both higher health care costs and less money for food.
U.S. Department of Agriculture research shows that expanding SNAP benefits in times of recession reduces food insecurity. (Economic Research Service, USDA, 2011, 2013).
Congressman Thompson: What is there to be 'proud about' in taking food from low-income children and families to lower taxes for the wealthy?
Lucia Kaiser, State College
As a member of Generation Z, I grew up in an era defined by extreme partisanship. Unwillingness to cooperate across political parties has eroded trust in democracy. Legislation in the Pennsylvania House and Senate State Government Committees offers hope for meaningful reform by reducing polarization and legislative gridlock through a fair and transparent redistricting process for future generations.
House Bill 31 and Senate Bill 131 would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution by establishing an independent redistricting commission. The bills' numbering reminds us that districts will be redrawn in 2031.
Currently, political parties control the redistricting process. Majority and minority leaders draw district lines not based on population but on what would be most likely to maintain their power. HB31 and SB131 reduce partisanship by establishing an independent commission of citizens, which will now include previously excluded independent voters.
The current redistricting process also lacks rules regarding transparency. Committee chairs can hold hearings for congressional districts but are not required to do so. HB31 and SB131 mandate that all information be publicly shared and available for public comment.
So far this year, the Pennsylvania General Assembly has enacted only two bills, but June is their most active month with at least 14 days in session. As chair of the State Government committee, Senator Cris Dush determines whether SB 131 will be put to a committee vote.
To learn more about the bills, check out www.fairdistrictspa.com or stop by Fair Districts tables at Pride, Juneteenth, and/or Arts Fest.
Noah Bradford Demo, State College
It is ironic that draft dodger Trump, who has repeatedly defamed our country's military, is insisting on having a military parade that will undoubtedly bring more attention to his failures.
Moreover, it is outrageous that millions of dollars will be spent on such an event, especially after the draft dodger withdrew funding for life-saving veteran health care services including mental health and addiction treatment, the Veterans Crisis hot line, and other services designed to help veterans who lost a limb while serving our country in harm's way.
Even more alarming is the fact that the draft dodger and his sycophants are trashing the Constitution and the rule of law while Republican members of Congress sit idly by as they watch the dismantling of our governmental agencies. As indicated by retired Major General Paul Eaton, every patriotic American should be scared of the grave threat that the draft dodger poses to our democracy.
Americans who cherish our democracy must stand up and join forces with those of us who will resist the draft dodger and his billionaire oligarchs. There are many ways to resist the draft dodger including speaking out to your state and congressional representatives, voting in primaries and elections for better representatives, and providing financial support to organizations that file federal lawsuits against the draft dodger.
Kevin Alloway, Port Matilda
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Newsweek
5 hours ago
- Newsweek
Iowa Democrat Drops Out of Senate Race, Endorses Rival
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Iowa Democratic Representative J.D. Scholten announced Monday that he is suspending his 2026 U.S. Senate campaign and endorsing fellow Democratic legislator Josh Turek in the primary race to potentially challenge Republican Senator Joni Ernst. Newsweek reached out to Scholten via email on Monday for comment. Why It Matters Scholten's endorsement consolidates Democratic support around healthcare advocacy, with Turek bringing a personal perspective to the issue. The two-time Paralympic gold medalist said his family relied on public assistance programs like Medicaid, as well as Iowa's Area Education Agencies and free summer lunch program as he was growing up, having gone through 21 surgeries by the age of 12 for spina bifida, according to his official campaign biography. The 2026 Iowa Senate race represents a critical opportunity for Democrats in a state that has shifted increasingly Republican in recent cycles. Senator Ernst's response to healthcare concerns has become a focal point for Democratic challengers seeking to make the race competitive. An important update 👉 Today I'm suspending my campaign and endorsing Josh Turek. We can't sit by while healthcare is ripped from millions of Americans and there's no better Democrat in Iowa to hold Joni to account for her cruelty than my friend fighter State Rep. Josh Turek. — J.D. Scholten (@JDScholten) August 18, 2025 What To Know Scholten, a Sioux City Democrat, entered the race in June after Ernst sparked controversy for responding to comments at a town hall about Medicaid cuts. "People are not ... well, we all are going to die," the senator said in part. Ernst's office later clarified to news outlets that she was attempting to make a broader philosophical point about mortality, not specifically about Medicaid policy. Turek, a Democrat from Council Bluffs, launched his campaign on Tuesday. The endorsement comes as both lawmakers represent western Iowa districts and share backgrounds as athletes serving in the state legislature. Scholten, a professional baseball pitcher for the minor league Sioux City Explorers, said he and Turek share many similarities as athletes representing western Iowa at the Statehouse. The Democratic primary field remains crowded despite Scholten's exit. Iowa Senator Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris and Nathan Sage, former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce director, are running for the seat, alongside Turek. On the Republican side, Jim Carlin, a former state lawmaker and Joshua Smith, who has run as a Libertarian candidate in previous elections, are also campaigning for the GOP nomination. Ernst has not officially said if she plans to run for reelection in 2026, though she has told reporters an announcement would be "coming soon." She also told a GOP audience last week that Democrats can "bring it on" in the 2026 election. The lawmaker has raised nearly $1.8 million in the first half of 2025 and scheduled an October fundraiser, possibly signaling preparations for a reelection campaign, the AP reports. Early polling of the race shows the senator with a slight advantage in Iowa. A June Public Policy Polling survey found that Ernst would lead a generic Democrat by about two percentage points—45 percent to 43 percent, with 12 percent still unsure. The poll did not ask voters about specific Democratic candidates. The poll surveyed 568 Iowa voters. What People Are Saying Scholten in a statement on Monday in part: "There are still so many issues facing Iowans today, but we can't sit by while healthcare is ripped from millions of Americans. And there is no better Democrat in Iowa to talk about healthcare issues than my friend: State Rep. Josh Turek." Scholten on his endorsement decision in part: "From the very beginning, I thought a prairie populist athlete from Western Iowa would be the best candidate to win in the General election. I still do, but instead of me, I have complete confidence that Josh Turek can take this on." Turek responding to Scholten's message on X: "I am honored to have the support of J.D. Over the last several years, J.D. and I have fought alongside one another in the state legislature to lower costs for Iowa's families, to make health care more affordable and accessible, to make housing more affordable, and to make life a little bit easier and a little bit better for Iowa's families." He concluded: "We have an incredible opportunity to beat Joni Ernst in 2026, and I'm proud to join forces with J.D." JD Scholten, running for congress in Iowa's 4th Congressional District against Steve King, waves to supporters outside the Wing Ding Dinner on August 9, 2019 in Clear Lake, Iowa. JD Scholten, running for congress in Iowa's 4th Congressional District against Steve King, waves to supporters outside the Wing Ding Dinner on August 9, 2019 in Clear Lake, Iowa. ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty Images What Happens Next? Turek and Scholten will hold an event in Council Bluffs Monday evening. Ernst is expected to formally announce her potential reelection campaign within the coming weeks. Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
Politico
8 hours ago
- Politico
Torres ‘underestimated' Hochul, now supports her
Presented by NY Offshore Wind Alliance MY EX-ENEMY IS MY FRIEND: Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres boosted his former foe Gov. Kathy Hochul today — celebrating her efforts to resist President Donald Trump and federal cuts to Medicaid as she paid a visit to his Bronx district. With the vast majority of the state's Democratic establishment behind her reelection campaign — and Torres, her one-time enemy, moving to her side — Hochul looks to be leaving Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado (her former-friend-turned-enemy) behind. Delgado is waging a primary challenge to Hochul's left in hopes he can tap into the energy that shot Zohran Mamdani to victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary — even though Mamdani wants a collaborative relationship with Hochul and little to do with Delgado's lefty insurgence. Torres — who announced last month he won't be running for governor after he spent eight months harshly criticizing Hochul — appears to also want peace. The House member and Hochul are in active discussions about a potential endorsement of the governor, a source close to the governor told Playbook. The person asked for anonymity to speak freely about sensitive discussions. Torres and Hochul sat next to each other at today's event, where the two electeds participated in a rally against slashes to Medicaid funding. 'Now is not the time for infighting; now is the time for unity under the leadership of our Gov. Kathy Hochul,' he said. Later, Torres told reporters: 'There might have been moments when I've underestimated the governor, and my message to Donald Trump is you underestimate Governor Hochul at your own peril.' 'Underestimated' is a vast understatement of Torres' rhetoric in 2024, when he spent the year teasing a primary challenge against Hochul and launching a statewide listening tour. Along the way, he called Hochul 'feckless,' a 'down-ballot disaster,' an 'electoral train wreck,' an 'accidental governor,' a politician who knows 'absolutely nothing' about communities of color and one half of the duo that made New York home to 'the worst combination of leaders in the country.' Today, Hochul said the people of the South Bronx were 'so blessed' to have Torres represent them, whom she described as a 'tireless fighter.' 'Politics is a business where you ought not be in it if you're going to take things personally,' said Jay Jacobs, chair of the state's Democratic party. 'The governor has demonstrated for a long time that she takes a very professional approach to things like this and will work with anybody that will work with her.' — Jason Beeferman FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL BURKE EXPLORING HIGHER OFFICE: Assemblymember Pat Burke launched a campaign committee this morning for an unspecified state-level office. 'We're just keeping our options open and looking to grow a little bit,' said Burke, a Buffalo Democrat in his fourth term. 'That's an exploratory committee, so we're going to explore.' It's not yet clear where there might be an opening for Burke. As things stand today, three of the four incumbent statewide officeholders are running for new terms in their current jobs in 2028 — Hochul will be seeking a new running mate, but it's unlikely she'd view an Irish Buffalonian as the type of lieutenant governor that could diversify the ticket. And the assemblymember does not live in the Senate seat that's likely to be vacated by Buffalo Democratic mayoral nominee Sean Ryan in January. Burke said that 'all options are on the table' for the committee, dubbed 'Burke Powers New York.' But didn't specify which office he might seek: 'We want to be prepared if and when the time comes,' he said. — Bill Mahoney From the Capitol INSURANCE PLANS: Hochul on Monday would not explicitly commit to supporting state-funded Medicaid coverage for more than 500,000 lawfully present immigrants in New York who will be kicked off the federally funded Essential Plan in coming months, due to Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. A 2001 court decision found the state must extend Medicaid coverage to lawfully present immigrants who would qualify if not for their immigration status. That will cost the state about $3 billion annually once those New Yorkers become ineligible for the Essential Plan. 'I'm looking at the entire situation right now,' Hochul told reporters after her rally with Torres in the Bronx. 'We're working on that — what that looks like. We're committed to finding a solution.' Hochul said she will soon meet again with legislative leaders and state finance officials to address the law's impact on the state budget, which includes about $750 million in Medicaid costs this fiscal year for the group of immigrants slated to lose coverage. 'I believe we'll be able to find a path forward to deal with that number, and we'll let everybody know once that's completed, but next year's gonna be tough,' said Hochul. Becca Telzak, deputy director at Make the Road New York, an advocacy organization for immigrant and working-class communities, said every New Yorker deserves access to health insurance coverage. 'In the face of the Trump administration's attacks on our health care system, it is imperative that the Governor does not just look into the situation, but commits to ensuring that every New Yorker, including low-income individuals on the New York Essential Plan, do not lose coverage and can access affordable health insurance,' Telzak said in a statement to POLITICO. — Maya Kaufman ZELDIN TARGETS BATTERY STORAGE: Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin was back on Long Island to raise safety concerns about battery storage on Monday. Zeldin touted the importance of local authorities in permitting these facilities and lambasted New York's clean energy goals in comments to The New York Post ahead of his appearance. 'Legitimate concerns over emergency response and safety from lithium fires are being ignored in pursuit of impossible climate targets the state knows it cannot hit,' Zeldin wrote in an X post. Many local governments across New York have placed moratoriums or other restrictions on battery storage, a major concern for developers and policymakers looking to advance a decarbonized electric grid. The state doesn't have permitting control for battery storage systems, despite the EPA's claims. It does, however, have the ability to override local objections to large wind and solar installations or fossil fuel power plants. The Hochul administration considered putting large battery storage permitting decisions under the state Office of Renewable Energy Siting as part of her 2024 legislative agenda, but she ultimately didn't advance that idea. State Sen. Pete Harckham, who previously sponsored a measure to give the state control over utility-scale battery permitting, didn't prioritize the effort in this year's session amid local backlash. Zeldin, who spent five terms in Congress representing Long Island, appeared in Hauppauge, where Newsday says fire officials are fighting a proposed 79 megawatt battery project by Key Capture Energy. New York City Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa wants Zeldin to oppose a battery storage project in Brooklyn, where Sliwa plans an opposition rally Monday evening. The state's fire codes are the most stringent in the country and follow all recommendations made by the EPA, said Marguerite Wells, executive director for the Alliance for Clean Energy New York. 'We look forward to partnering with local fire departments through trainings and education regarding safeguards the industry has already instituted, demonstrating that this technology is safe and proven to keep the grid reliable and affordable,' she said. The federal concerns about battery storage come as New York rolls out major new incentives for the technology. New York lags way behind its rival climate leader California in deployment of lithium-ion batteries, partly because of a lack of subsidies to give developers certainty about potential revenues. The state won't meet a previous target of 1,500 megawatts of storage by 2025. Instead, the focus is on a 6,000 megawatt by 2030 goal. There are about 500 megawatts of storage currently installed in New York, according to NYSERDA. (California passed 10,000 megawatts last year.) Incentives for residential and retail level battery projects became available in May and June. A long awaited competitive process to subsidize larger utility-scale battery projects is also ongoing, with initial information due from developers on Sept. 4. — Marie J. French IN OTHER NEWS — SUIT UP: Mayor Eric Adams is suing New York City's Campaign Finance Board a second time over its latest refusal to give him public matching funds. 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New York Post
8 hours ago
- New York Post
Driver's license given to deadly illegal migrant trucker shows how blue states undermine border security
Blue states keep finding new ways to undermine the federal government's crackdown on illegal immigration. Sanctuary states like California, and sanctuary cities like Chicago, try their best to embed illegal aliens into society to increase the incentives to come here illegally, and reduce the incentives to self-deport. Some are expensive, like giving access to Medicaid, while others, like giving driver's licenses, cost less. Advertisement But the point is always the same: Amnesty by a thousand cuts. Anti-border politicians seek to normalize illegal immigration and present the American people with a fait accompli — 'They've lived here for many years, we can't deport them now!' Perhaps the most important way states undermine federal immigration-control efforts is by issuing driver's licenses to illegal aliens. Advertisement The illegal-alien truck driver with a California commercial license who recently caused the deaths of three people in Florida has garnered as lot of attention, and prison followed by deportation should be his lot. But it's the millions of illegals with regular licenses that pose the greater long-term threat to the country. You can't get by in a modern society without ID. A government-issued photo ID is necessary for all kinds of ordinary activities — cashing a check, getting a job, renting a house, opening a bank account, picking up a prescription, buying a beer. Advertisement If illegal migrants can't get legitimate IDs, they'll seek out fake or stolen ones, significantly increasing the risk of arrest and deportation, or even prison. If such a policy were applied nationwide, it would be less appealing to come here illegally, more appealing to leave for those already here, and easier for immigration authorities to do their jobs. But unlike a lot of countries, we don't have a national ID card that we could deny to illegal aliens. Instead, we mainly rely on state driver's licenses or DMV-issued non-driver IDs. That means blue states have it within their power to subvert immigration law and help illegals embed in their communities by issuing them driver's licenses. And this is exactly what 19 states (all blue, except for Utah), plus DC and Puerto Rico, have done. They take the form of 'driver privilege cards' that don't meet the standards of the federal Real ID Act, but are perfectly usable for many purposes. As important as licenses are, there are other ways blue states are normalizing illegal immigration. Advertisement For instance, many states provide certain Medicaid services to illegal aliens, making it still easier to stay here. It was recently reported that much of the growth in New York's 'emergency Medicaid' program has come from illegal aliens; the total cost of the program, for all users, was more than $600 million last year. Along the same lines, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker recently signed legislation guaranteeing access to student financial aid to illegal aliens. Cost aside, the point here is to erase the line between legal and illegal aliens, and to make it easier for illegals to stay and harder for federal authorities make them leave. The de facto amnesty strategy is like a mosaic — each shiny piece is presented as harmless or even beneficial: The roads will be safer if illegals have licenses! Talented youth will be able to go to college! But put the pieces together and what you get is one of those 'Amnesty for All' signs, followed in parentheses by '(Whether the American people like it or not).' Mark Krikorian is executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies.
