State rainy day fund debated as solution for SNAP benefit gap in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. — As the government shutdown enters its fifth week, Oklahoma is bracing for a significant impact on its residents, with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits set to run out on Saturday.

More than 680,000 Oklahomans rely on these benefits, and the looming deadline has sparked debate among state lawmakers about potential solutions.

Vice Chair Erin Brewer of the Oklahoma Democrats has suggested using the state’s rainy day fund, which is stocked with millions, to bridge the gap. “There are multiple savings accounts. Which one is the technical one that can be used? That’s up to the legislature and the governor, but absolutely, Oklahoma has the funds to bridge the gap for SNAP benefits,” Brewer said.

However, Majority Leader of the House Republican Caucus Mark Lawson expressed skepticism about this approach. “There are very specific triggers, which have not been met, that dictate when the state rainy day fund can be used. The rainy day fund could not sustain SNAP benefits—which cost over $1 billion a year in Oklahoma—for long, leaving Oklahomans in no better position than they are facing with the looming Nov. 1 deadline,” Lawson stated. He also criticized congressional Democrats, saying, “They need to do their jobs and vote to reopen the federal government.”

While state leaders deliberate, local organizations are stepping up to help.

The Oklahoma Citizens for Education, co-founded by Dr. Chris Culver, is working with Horace Mann Elementary to raise food donations. “We’re building packets with local recipes. So that we not only give families meals, but also solutions on how to build these meals so they’re sustainable long term,” Culver said.

The initiative aims to support families and eliminate the stigma associated with receiving assistance, as one in six Oklahomans relies on SNAP.