Shutdown Day 30: Millions about to be cut off from food aid this Saturday

Government Shutdown & Healthcare Policy - The core issue of the government shutdown is the disagreement over extending Obamacare subsidies, not a spending debate [4][5] - House Democrats received polling data indicating a 2:1 margin preference for fighting for healthcare over opening the government [2] - Republicans believe they are winning the messaging war regarding the shutdown [14] - An offer exists to give Democrats a vote on subsidies in the Senate, but Democrats want guaranteed text in the CR due to distrust of Republicans [10][11] Political Incentives & Dynamics - Government shutdowns often devolve into battles over power and how parties present themselves to voters [7] - Democrats initiated a shutdown, against their principles, to achieve policy aims due to base demands to fight Donald Trump [8] - Republicans do not want to compromise with the minority party due to the signal it would send about power [7] - Democrats are trying to sideline congressional leaders and appeal to Trump, hoping he will compromise [13] Impact on Constituents - In Georgia, 1.4 million people utilize SNAP, which is about 13% of the state population [20][21] - Nearly 70% of SNAP recipients in Georgia are in families with children, and nearly 30% are in families with older adults or disabled adults [21] - Concerns exist about rising healthcare costs and the potential loss of food assistance benefits like SNAP and WIC [17][18]