Tennessee House Democrats are calling for Gov. Bill Lee to call a special legislative session to allocate state emergency funds to continue vital federal food aid and energy assistance programs as the federal government remains closed.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons wrote to Lee on Oct. 23 to express “extreme concern” over Lee’s declaration that he has no plans to use state funds to fill a $146 million federal funding gap needed to pay food aid benefits to nearly 700,000 low income and disabled Tennesseans in November.

“Time is of the essence for Tennessee’s most vulnerable families and children,” Clemmons wrote. “Choosing to stand idly by while children go hungry is unacceptable. The time to act is now.”

Funding that powers programs that needy Tennesseans rely o

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