Congressman Tom Cole on Government Shutdown, SNAP Benefits, and Nigeria Military Action

Government Shutdown and Reopening

• 📌 Congressman Tom Cole believes the government shutdown, now on day 35, is likely to end on Wednesday or Thursday of the upcoming week.
• 💡 He suggests Democrats are waiting until after Election Day to energize their base but acknowledges the shutdown is causing serious damage to the US economy.
• 🚀 A clean continuing resolution introduced by Cole passed the House and had Senate majority support, but Democrats used a filibuster to block it, leading to millions of Americans being out of work.
• ⏳ Cole anticipates a new continuing resolution will be needed to fund the government, likely attaching appropriations bills for military construction, veterans affairs, and agriculture, potentially extending funding into January.

SNAP Benefits and Economic Impact

• 💰 The Trump administration is allocating nearly all of its $5 billion contingency fund to partially resume SNAP benefits, though closer to $9 billion is needed to maintain the program fully.
• ✈️ Flight delays, with over 400 delays and 30 cancellations in a single morning, are adding pressure on Democrats to negotiate an end to the shutdown.
• ⚠️ Air traffic control and TSA agents are reportedly calling in sick due to working without pay, highlighting the strain on essential services.

Military Action in Nigeria

• ⚡ President Trump has ordered the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria if the country does not crack down on the killing and persecution of Christians.
• 💬 Cole's committee has legislation ready to make Nigeria a country of interest, expressing concern over domestic issues and the persecution of Christians.
• 🌍 The goal is to ensure the military has the necessary tools if the president decides to take action, with the final decision resting with the president.

Obamacare Subsidies and Healthcare Reform

• 🏥 While Republicans are unlikely to agree to continue Obamacare subsidies in their current form, they are open to negotiating changes with Democrats.
• 🗣️ Cole stated that any continuation of subsidies would face difficulty in a Republican House, emphasizing that the underlying legislation of Obamacare is defective and needs to be fixed.
• ✅ The focus is on negotiating changes to improve healthcare for Americans, rather than simply adding more subsidies on top of existing ones.