Statement from Dorchester County Democratic Party Leadership on SC SNAP Benefits Response

On Saturday, November 1st, over 560,000 South Carolinians will lose access to their SNAP benefits. This lapse in funding is a direct result of the governmental dysfunction the Republican leadership brings at all levels. At the national level, Speaker Mike Johnson is obstructing the lawful seating of an elected official to protect the President from his connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Additionally, the GOP has already cut $186B from SNAP and $1T from ACA, Medicaid, and Medicare funding to give their billionaire donors tax breaks. Despite all of this, Republicans want you to believe that it's the Democrats who are trying to harm you through this shutdown. 

At the state level, GOP leadership's answer is to activate the state militia, rely on charitable operations, and let our citizens starve.  Governor McMaster would rather engage in a “show of force” than one of compassion, empathy, or understanding because, like the rest of his party, he's out of touch, has no solutions, and doesn't actually care. 

Access to food, water, shelter, and healthcare are basic human rights. When our prison population is having their core needs met and our citizens aren't, that's a scathing critique of just how broken our systems are. 

As a party, I'm asking those who have the means to respond by donating to and volunteering at food banks between now and January since this is the hardest time of the year for these organizations. Additionally, I'm calling on us to support our own community in the Party through mutual aid. If you know of members or neighbors in need, let's rally together and get groceries to their home. 

We're stronger together, and we can be the change we want to see. Leadership is about action, not words and it's our chance to show our communities what Democratic leadership looks like. 

Signed, 

Michael Fronk, Chair

Alexia Niketas, 1st Vice Chair

Rita Adkins, 2nd Vice Chair

Dorchester County Democratic Party