Senate Republicans’ plan to push a large part of food aid costs onto state governments has hit a major legal obstacle. This idea, which aimed to force states to pay some of the costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, has been completely blocked by a decision from the Senate parliamentarian. This ruling is a major setback for Republican goals, forcing them to rethink their entire budget strategy as they work through the challenges of their legislative priorities.
The key decision came from an advisory issued by Senate Budget Committee Democrats on Friday night, which shared the parliamentarian’s conclusion. Elizabeth MacDonough, the Senate parliamentarian, decided that the cost-sharing plan broke the rules of the Byrd Rule. This rule defines what can be included in the reconciliation process, a faster way to pass certain laws.
