There are no declared Republican candidates yet to run against incumbent Democrat Josh Shapiro next year, but a four-term congressman who is seriously considering a run has clapped back at the governor’s portrayal of the reduction of SNAP benefits in Republican congressional districts. Shapiro released a map last week saying the spending bill signed by the president on Friday will cut Medicaid coverage for almost 18,000 residents in Representative Dan Meuser’s 9th Congressional District, and more than 8,000 residents will lose SNAP benefits.
Meuser voted for the bill. He says Shapiro’s map is “complete, utter nonsense,” which does not take into account “illegals” and “those that are ineligible” to collect benefits. He said Shapiro is “running the fifth-largest state and not bringing any management skills or accountability or even questioning the current status quo.”
According to Shapiro’s map, the two congressional districts which include Indiana County will also suffer great losses in benefits. In Congressman Glenn Thompson’s 15th District, the governor claims 15,215 people will lose Medicaid coverage and 6,825 will lose SNAP benefits. In Guy Reschenthaler’s 14th District, Shapiro says there will be 18,645 people who will lose Medicaid and 11,071 who will lose SNAP. Thompson also blasted Shapiro, saying he’s “absolutely wrong” on the lost benefits claims.
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