State senator shuts down session to ‘send a loud message’ about shutdown blame game

Republican Sen. Ryan Fattman shut down the Senate’s session after just a few minutes Monday morning, saying he hoped to “send a message” about the Healey administration pointedly blaming President Donald Trump for a lapse in SNAP benefits in official state communications.

With SNAP benefits at risk of lapsing lapsing for about 1.1 million Bay Staters starting Saturday as a result of the federal government shutdown, the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance website says that “President Trump is currently choosing to not issue November SNAP benefits that help you and many families put food on the table,” and the same language went out in emails and text messages to SNAP recipients.

“People need to be adults and act as such,” Fattman told NBC10 Boston. “The immaturity, the political gamesmanship, it all has to stop.”

Senator Fattman halted the Senate’s Monday session by doubting the presence of a quorum in protest of the politicization of this issue.

Fattman told the State House News Service that he has been trying to help constituents access SNAP benefits and started seeing the department’s messaging over the weekend as state-funded emails and text messages started going out.

“We’ve seen the federal government play this political game using taxpayer resources to say crazy messages and now Massachusetts is doing it under the Healey Administration,” Fattman said. “I felt that was wrong. I wanted to send a loud message that this needs to end.”

Gov. Maura Healey said that President Donald Trump has the power to distribute federal dollars that serve as a lifeline for many residents, but that Massachusetts does not have the money to cover the benefits if they are lost.

Fattman brought about an early end to Monday’s Senate session by doubting the presence of a quorum. Because a quorum of senators was not on hand and could not be rallied in about 10 minutes, the branch adjourned until Thursday. Sen. Sal DiDomenico of Everett was presiding over Monday’s session and Millbury Sen. Michael Moore arrived in the chamber about 10 minutes after Fattman’s motion.

Republicans and Democrats in Washington have been unable to agree on bills to fund government operations for the last four weeks and leaders of the two major parties have blamed each other for the shutdown.

Healey on Monday reiterated her stance about Trump’s role in the SNAP funding sitaution, and she wasn’t alone among Democratic politicians.

“They’re trying to make their resources stretch when Republicans are cutting food assistance,” Congresswoman Lori Trahan said.