Felzkowski says state funding unlikely as Foodshare benefits set to run out

MADISON, Wis. (WRN) — The Wisconsin Legislature is unlikely to step in once federal funding for Foodshare runs out because of the shutdown.

Wisconsin administers some $114 million in federally funded Foodshare benefits for 700,000 people. State Senate President, Republican Mary Felzkowski on WISN’s UpFront
“114 million is a lot of money and my heart goes out to people, but this is a federal issue and I don’t see the state having the resources to do that,” Felzkowski said.

But Feeding Wisconsin Executive Director Jackie Anderson points to the state’s nearly $2 billion rainy day fund, and more than $4 billion surplus.

“So the funding is there if we choose to actually implement that and and use some of it to help these SNAP folks,” Anderson said.

Anderson says if you have a Foodshare balance from October, you will be able to use that through November.