Another in an ongoing series:
Dear Senator McCormick;
I am a constituent of yours and I'd like to ask you a few questions.
As you know, the Department of Agriculture sent out this letter to all SNAP directors. It started with this paragraph:
As stated in our lapse of appropriation correspondence dated October 1, 2025, SNAP has funding available for benefits and operations through the month of October. However, if the current lapse in appropriations continues, there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million individuals across the Nation.
And according to the Center for Budget Priorities, that's 2 million Pennsylvanians. That's one out of seven.
Meanwhile, ABC reported:
President Donald Trump has come under fire after he hosted a "Great Gatsby"-themed Halloween party just hours before millions of Americans lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The Friday night fête at Mar-a-Lago was themed "A little party never killed nobody,” according to the White House, referencing the song from the 2013 film adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel.
Don't you think the optics of these two events (the SNAP shutdown and the Gatsby party) occurring in the same weekend is really bad? It isn't pretty, is it, old sport?
Please explain how it's OK to have a table filled with desserts at a party celebrating decadence the same weekend millions of our fellow Pennsylvanians (which, as you know, working people, veterans, and children) will be losing their SNAP benefits.
Yes, old sport, please explain to us how this is all OK with you.
I'll await your answer.
As always, I'll post here whatever answer I get from you or your office, Senator.
