Senate GOP Cut Food Assistance for Families and Children

RALEIGH

May 17, 2017

Senate Republicans quietly inserted a provision in their budget to cut SNAP food assistance benefits for 133,000 North Carolinians last week, including 51,000 children.

The cuts were not debated or mentioned by Republican leaders, and would not save the state any money, as the food assistance program is 100% federally funded. The cuts are also expected to cause many students from low-income families to lose free and reduced lunch eligibility.

Governor Cooper issued the following statement:

“In addition to giving millionaires tax breaks 60 times larger than middle class families, Senate Republicans quietly slipped a provision in their budget to cut 100% federally-funded food-stamps for 133,000 North Carolinians. This includes 51,000 children, many of whose free or reduced lunch status is jeopardized with this action. This food makes a real difference for families who need it and doesn’t cost North Carolina any state tax money. Lining the pockets of millionaires while going out of the way to make it harder for children to eat is just wrong.”

See how many families and children would be affected by these cuts in each county:

COUNTY NAME	Total Individuals by County	Total Children Age 18 Years and Younger
Alamance	2010	833
Alexander	417	134
Alleghany	123	37
Anson	453	139
Ashe	340	97
Avery	187	59
Beaufort	677	197
Bertie	331	74
Bladen	581	197
Brunswick	1354	451
Buncombe	3141	1096
Burke	1042	353
Cabarrus	2887	1311
Caldwell	1086	334
Camden	61	18
Carteret	792	248
Caswell	277	60
Catawba	2334	906
Chatham	884	385
Cherokee	325	63
Chowan	206	54
Clay	129	36
Cleveland	1397	419
Columbus	670	222
Craven	1165	393
Cumberland	4330	1635
Currituck	203	74
Dare	361	136
Davidson	2246	810
Davie	523	207
Duplin	1034	456
Durham	4608	2062
Edgecombe	787	221
Forsyth	5307	2239
Franklin	920	338
Gaston	2840	1060
Gates	130	34
Graham	78	22
Granville	745	278
Greene	351	136
Guilford	7599	3033
Halifax	933	246
Harnett	1611	628
Haywood	750	238
Henderson	1266	484
Hertford	348	86
Hoke	855	350
Hyde	59	19
Iredell	1187	471
Jackson	406	126
Johnston	3097	1274
Jones	191	51
Lee	1233	502
Lenoir	868	312
Lincoln	800	280
Macon	517	164
Madison	227	68
Martin	373	114
McDowell	699	228
Mecklenburg	15674	7003
Mitchell	177	33
Montgomery	455	190
Moore	831	299
Nash	1280	505
New Hanover	2638	966
Northampton	319	81
Onslow	1906	697
Orange	1207	482
Pamlico	165	46
Pasquotank	662	231
Pender	746	259
Perquimans	177	45
Person	524	144
Pitt	2427	840
Polk	196	53
Randolph	2066	812
Richmond	811	250
Robeson	2144	771
Rockingham	1153	346
Rowan	1830	634
Rutherford	840	241
Sampson	1334	542
Scotland	379	99
Stanly	679	214
Stokes	405	114
Surry	1135	363
Swain	134	47
Transylvania	357	111
Tyrrell	63	20
Union	2518	1149
Vance	885	301
Wake	10297	4617
Warren	305	86
Washington	151	42
Watauga	300	106
Wayne	1993	785
Wilkes	1044	345
Wilson	1534	573
Yadkin	539	207
Yancey	271	89
Total	132902	51236
*Source: NC Department of Health and Human Services