March 17, 2014

GOV. MALLOY: SPEAKER BOEHNER'S COMMENTS ARE 'SHAMEFUL'

(HARTFORD, CT) - Today, Governor Dannel P. Malloy, in a letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner, took issue with statements made by the Speaker on Connecticut's action to prevent thousands of citizens from losing critical food benefits through cuts in the recently passed Farm Bill.

Speaker Boehner referred to states' decision to dedicate additional energy assistance dollars to the standards utility allowance for eligible SNAP recipients as "cheating" and "fraud."

In his letter , Governor Malloy stated, "To characterize as cheating and fraud states' implementation of this provision is disingenuous at best and shameful at worst. Clearly, Congress intended to grant states the authority to provide this vital benefit which is a lifeline to some of our most vulnerable constituents.

"Furthermore, your demonization of states that have elected to provide this benefit impugns the children, the elderly, the disabled, the low wage workers and veterans who receive such aid by implying that they are a party to something criminal. To the contrary, I think most would argue that denying residents of my state $112 a month in nutrition assistance is morally wrong."

Governor Malloy continued, "Congress wrote the bill. Congress passed the bill. And now states are implementing the law, your reprehensible comments notwithstanding."

** Download : Governor Malloy's letter to Speaker Boehner

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For Immediate Release: March 17, 2014

Facebook: Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy