NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — With just days left before a possible federal shutdown, Tennessee lawmakers are at odds over what to do if the money that helps feed more than 690,000 Tennesseans suddenly stops flowing.

House Democrats this week sent a letter to Gov. Bill Lee calling for a special session to allocate state money to prevent Tennesseans from losing access to food and other federal aid programs. Democratic lawmakers said Tennessee has the financial means to temporarily fill the gap if federal programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program run out of funding.

"Here we are heading into the holidays," said Rep. John Ray Clemmons, chair of the House Democratic Caucus. "Six hundred and ninety thousand Tennesseans are going to sit at an empty table on Thanksgiving? That'

See Full Page