SNAP cuts, Illinois payment errors spark fierce debate

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A Democratic state senator says the federal government is to blame for 150,000 Illinoisans losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, but a Republican senator says Illinois’ high error rate for payments will cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars.

During an Illinois Senate Revenue Committee hearing recently, state Sen. Don DeWitte, R-St. Charles, asked state Sen. Lakesia Collins, D-Chicago, why she thought 150,000 Illinoisans lost federal food assistance.

“The cuts from the big ugly bill to SNAP benefits,” Collins said.

DeWitte said the Illinois Department of Human Services director suggested during a budget hearing the night before that federal cuts were not the reason, but instead it was because people no longer qualify.

DeWitte said Illinois would face penalties due its error rate for missed or mistaken payments.

“Do you have any idea what that payment is going to cost the state of Illinois? I have the answer for you. It’s going to cost the state of Illinois $700 million,” DeWitte said.

DeWitte said Illinois’ error rate of nearly 12% has not changed, even with 150,000 people removed from SNAP because they don’t qualify.

“So don’t give us this crap about revenue cuts from the federal government. You need to look at our own internal department of human services to find out why these people were really cut,” DeWitte said.

Collins said she received SNAP benefits before she joined the General Assembly.

“When you have some people who serve here who are afraid to stand up to these corporations, who make up excuses such as yourself, who look people like me in the eyes and tell us that we’re not worthy to be able to provide for our families…”

The committee chair, Sen. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, interrupted both Collins and DeWitte several times as they debated.

“I get that on these issues there is a lot of feelings in terms of what’s going on here, but we’re going to have decorum in this room,” Villanueva said.

The heated discussion took place during a subject matter hearing on Collins’ legislation that would decouple Illinois from several federal tax cut provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump last year.