In November, amidst all of the GOP hysteria over the issue of allowing Syrian refugees into the United States, Nathan Deal, the Republican governor of Georgia, signed an executive order which instructed all state agencies to halt all services to any refugees who requested them.
While this may be a politically popular move by Governor Deal, it is also in direct violation of federal laws and programs which allow benefits to all residents of the United States. Perhaps the most important of these programs is SNAP benefits, which provide food assistance to those in need.
Now we have a case in Georgia of a Syrian family that have been relocated to the Atlanta area as they begin their new lives away from the horrors of the Syrian civil war and the barbarism of the terrorist group ISIS. But the state of Georgia wants to deny them the food stamp benefits they are entitled to. As was reported in Talking Points Memo:
“The federal government has told Deal that he must roll back his executive order in order to comply with federal law. Jessica Shanin, associate administrator at the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,wrote a letter to the state in November warning that denying food stamps to Syrian refugees would violate federal law, noting that states cannot discriminate based on national origin or religion.”
But the state of Georgia will not relent:
“The state Division of Family and Child Services responded and said that they would continue to follow Deal’s order. And the governor has said he won’t budge on his decision not to administer food stamps to Syrian refugees.”
The federal government does have more than a little recourse if Governor Deal continues to be obstinate: They could withhold all federal funds for programs that benefit the disabled, the hungry, and those on receiving unemployment.
The governor told a Georgia newspaper:
“It’s ironic that the federal government doesn’t see fit to tell the state of Georgia, doesn’t see fit to tell our Homeland Security official, who these people are and where they are. The only way we know they are actually here is when they show up and apply for food stamps.”
I live in Georgia and this major dillhole, sadly, is my governor. But he is one of the shadiest characters you will ever meet and has barely managed to avoid indictment on corruption charges on numerous occasions. So my message to Douchebag Governor Deal is this: Do what is best for all Georgians or get the hell out of the office you hold!
