'Don't know if we can afford it': Pro-Trump senator worried about this line in budget bill

04 June

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference on February 22, 2024 (Image: Shutterstock)

President Donald Trump's massive "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" is now attracting some unexpected opposition in the form of one of his biggest supporters in the U.S. Senate.

Politico reported Wednesday that Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) is now openly expressing concern about one particular provision in the legislation that would shift part of the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, or SNAP (more commonly known as food stamps) to individual states. While the federal government has always provided 100% of the funding for food stamps, the GOP's budget bill now asks states to pick up some of the costs for the program that helps low-income Americans afford groceries.

“Everybody that’s going to be in state government is going to be concerned about it,” Tuberville told Politico. “I don’t know whether we can afford it or not.”

Tuberville, who recently announced his intent to run in Alabama's gubernatorial election next year, still supports the budget bill's new stricter work requirements for SNAP beneficiaries. However, the Yellowhammer State — which is the eighth-poorest state in the U.S. according to U.S. News & World Report — could be subjected to significant new unexpected costs should the One Big Beautiful Bill Act become law.

“I think a lot of governors are saying the Senate is not going to do this to us,” one unnamed Republican lawmaker confided to Politico. “No, we absolutely might.”

Other Senate Republicans are also sensitive about the prospect of states having to start paying for SNAP. Sen. Jim Justice (R-W. Va), who is a former governor of the fourth-poorest state, also said he would hesitate to vote for the bill given the provision that puts states with a high percentage of needy residents on the hook for food stamps.

"I hope to goodness we don’t go there," Justice said in May.

Click here to read Politico's full report.

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