Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak joins opposition to changes in food stamp rules

Gov. Steve Sisolak has joined 16 other governors in a letter strongly opposing changes to the federal food stamp program he says would end assistance to some 46,000 Nevadans.

The USDA has proposed changes that would impose a resource test on all applications to the program, officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). He said that would effectively eliminate Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility for assistance, reducing the number of people who qualify by about 11 percent.

“If this rule take effect, hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries across the United States including 46,000 individuals right here in Nevada would lose access to basic food assistance,” Sisolak said. “This is an unconscionable act that would have dire impacts on the most vulnerable populations in our state, especially those with disabilities, the elderly and low income children on free and reduced-price school meals.”