Despite bipartisan lawmakers’ urging, Lee declines to bridge SNAP freeze with state dollars

Volunteers of Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church in Nashville prepared food for seniors affected by a freeze in SNAP benefits beginning Saturday. (Photo:John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

With the looming prospect of federal food aid disappearing for nearly 1 in 10 Tennesseans starting Saturday, state Democratic lawmakers – and at least one Republican – have urged Gov. Bill Lee to follow the example of other state governors in taking action.

Lee, who’s out of state this week on an economic trip to Asia, has thus far declined to tap state resources to help mitigate the loss of more than $145 million in monthly food aid intended for the state’s poorest residents – among them more than 300,000 children living in poverty.

Instead, Lee, a Republican, blamed Democrats in Congress for the gov