NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Democratic Party is calling out Governor Bill Lee and Republicans for their continued failure to step up as nearly 700,000 Tennesseans continue to face uncertainty about where their next meal will come from.

Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons and Senate Democratic Leader Raumesh Akbari renewed their call for state action, emphasizing that Tennessee has more than enough funds to fill the gap and protect working families. Following last week’s federal court rulings and the Trump administration’s announcement that it will only partially fund SNAP benefits nationwide, Tennessee Democrats are demanding that Governor Lee ensure no Tennessee family goes hungry. Meanwhile, Tennessee Gubernatorial candidate, Senator Marsha Blackburn, a longtime Trump ally and one of his top surrogates in Tennessee, voted in the U.S. Senate to make historic-level cuts to SNAP that would have protected Tennessee families from exactly this kind of crisis. 

“Let’s be clear: the Trump administration created this crisis by shutting down the government and cutting funding for SNAP. Now, after a federal court ruling, they’re offering half-measures that still leave Tennessee families hungry,” said Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Rachel Campbell. “Governor Lee could take meaningful action to fill the gap, but instead, he’s following D.C. Republicans’ lead and doing nothing. The question every Tennessee Republican, especially Gubernatorial candidate Marsha Blackburn, should answer is simple: Would you sit idly by and let families go hungry? Tennessee Democrats are leading with solutions. We’re calling on Governor Lee and Republicans to stop hiding behind partisan politics and start leading for Tennessee families.”