(The Center Square) – Colorado is moving forward with stop-gap funding for food assistance programs as the longest U.S. federal shutdown drags on.

The state’s Joint Budget Committee approved two emergency appropriations requests from Gov. Jared Polis.

One funded up to $10 million in emergency General Fund support for food pantries and banks throughout the state, while the other allowed up to $7.5 million in previously approved funding to maintain Colorado operations for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

In October, only $775,000 of the appropriated WIC funding was utilized. That leaves nearly $7 million still available.

Members of the Joint Budget Committee said they felt they had to step up to protect Coloradans.

“Regardless of what’s happeni

See Full Page