SE Oakland News

Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt criticized Senate Democrats over a resolution related to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, calling their efforts misdirected. In a statement released Wednesday, Nesbitt said that if Democrats in the Michigan Senate were committed to ensuring residents receive SNAP benefits, they would be pressuring Democratic U.S. senators to end the ongoing federal government shutdown.

“If Democrats in the Michigan Senate were serious about making sure residents receive SNAP benefits next month, they would be urging their fellow Democrat U.S. senators to open the government and stop using hungry American citizens as leverage for their radical left agenda and handouts for illegal immigrants,” Nesbitt stated.

Nesbitt singled out Senators Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters, claiming they have repeatedly voted against measures to reopen the federal government. “Sens. Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters have voted 13 times to keep the federal government shut down. Thirteen times, they have chosen blind loyalty to radical party leadership over doing what’s right for the Michiganders they were elected to serve. Thirteen times, they’ve refused to do the right thing and move the Senate toward the 60 votes needed to reopen the government. Thirteen times, they’ve sided with illegal aliens instead of the American people. It’s shameful and disgusting.”

He called on both senators and other Democrats in Congress to support efforts to restore federal funding: “It’s time for Slotkin, Peters and the rest of the D.C. Democrats to stop obstructing the funding of our federal government. Stop holding hardworking Americans hostage and using hungry citizens as pawns to protect your failed radical ideas like taxpayer-funded health care for illegal aliens. It’s time to put America and its citizens first and end the Democrat shutdown.”

Nesbitt urged constituents interested in updates on state government issues to subscribe for further information.