Author | Lightnews

Reposted by Jason Bailey

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 3d

Breaking News: The Trump administration was ordered to release billions of dollars in backup funds for SNAP, the nation’s largest anti-hunger program, after the administration said the government shutdown meant it couldn’t tap contingency funds.

Judge orders Trump administration to release billions in SNAP contingency funds

The government did rely on contingency funding to keep food aid going when it shut down during President Donald Trump’s first term.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · 4d

In the absence of leadership in Washington DC, Kentuckians can and should act to protect our people. See more here: www.kentucky.com/news/politic...

Could KY use its rainy day fund to cover SNAP benefits?

Advocates urge Kentucky to tap its rainy day fund to prevent SNAP benefit cuts for low-income residents. A special legislative session would be needed to act.

www.kentucky.com

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · 4d

The President is legally obligated to fund SNAP in November using contingency funds but has so far refused to do so. Congress can also easily keep kynect health care costs from skyrocketing and reopen the government to resume funding SNAP but has failed to take that action. 3/

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · 4d

The money is there in the state’s Budget Reserve Trust Fund to fill the gap in the loss of November SNAP benefits. Kentucky has stockpiled $3.76 billion in that fund, and aid equal in cost to November benefits would take a fraction of that. 2/

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · 4d

If Congress and the President are not going to act to protect SNAP food assistance, we in Kentucky must step up. The state’s rainy day fund is for rainy days, and cutting off SNAP benefits on November 1st is a downpour for 1 in 8 Kentuckians. 1/

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Reposted by Jason Bailey

Tessa Duvall @tessaduvall.bsky.social · 5d

“That needs to be on the list of options, because it’s a downpour for the 600,000 Kentuckians who are not going to have enough food on the table if their benefits are cut off. I believe that the primary purpose of the rainy day fund is for emergencies. And this is one.” - @jbaileyky.bsky.social

KY has billions in ‘rainy day fund.’ Can the state use it to pay SNAP benefits?

If the federal government doesn’t cover November SNAP benefits, should Kentucky tap its budget reserves?

www.kentucky.com

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · 6d

As explained here, the administration is legally required to use contingency reserves to fund these benefits: www.cbpp.org/research/foo...

SNAP’s Contingency Reserve Is Available for Regular SNAP Benefits, as USDA and OMB Have Ruled in Past

The Administration must use all available options to fund November benefits for the 1 in 8 people in the U.S. who need SNAP to afford their grocery bill.

www.cbpp.org

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · 6d

Gov. Andy Beshear joins lawsuit by states against the Trump administration for illegally cutting off SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans on Nov. 1: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

www.documentcloud.org

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Reposted by Jason Bailey

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 12d

Families who buy health insurance on kynect will see their costs soar when open enrollment begins Nov 1.

Are you one of them? Share your story and push Congress to ensure you stay covered: forms.gle/wmgMCb38y5jG...

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · 12d

If the spike in costs will be a challenge for you and your family to meet and you'd like to tell your story, please share it here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Share Your Story

Hard working families who buy health insurance on the kynect marketplace will soon see their costs soar. Congress can stop this by extending existing tax credits that make these plans more affordable....

docs.google.com

Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · 12d

Find your county, and more information, here: kypolicy.org/kentuckians-...

Kentuckians in Every County Will See Health Care Costs Soar Unless Congress Acts - Kentucky Center for Economic Policy

See how many Kentuckians in each of the state's 120 counties purchase health insurance on the kynect marketplace.

kypolicy.org

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · 12d

Kentuckians in every corner of the state could see their health premiums double or more if Congress does not extend the expiring kynect subsidies. That includes:
--1,122 people in Calloway Co
--603 in Adair
--2,551 in Daviess
--474 in Floyd
--3,977 in Warren
--1,429 in Bullitt
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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · 17d

This is a total disaster. Tick tock, Congress: only you can stop it

Gideon Lukens @gidlukens.bsky.social · 17d

Kentucky opened its 2026 ACA marketplace window shopping this week – and again, residents are seeing big premium spikes because of expiring tax credit enhancements. A typical 60-year-old couple making $85,000 is facing a $23,700 increase in annual premiums. (1/4)

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Reposted by Jason Bailey

Lexington Herald-Leader @kentucky.com · Oct 2

OpEd: Health care is among the key household costs that keep many working families awake at night.

Government shutdown is about health care costs, and making life affordable | Opinion

OpEd: Health care is among the key household costs that keep many working families awake at night.

bit.ly

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · Oct 2

Op-Ed: Congressional health care fight is about making life affordable kentuckylantern.com/2025/10/02/c...

Congressional health care fight is about making life affordable • Kentucky Lantern

Health care costs keep many working families awake at night. Americans want their government to solve that problem, not make it worse.

kentuckylantern.com

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · Oct 2

As state funding falls behind, teachers in 40 Kentucky school districts got no raise this year www.kentucky.com/news/politic...

Teachers in 40 Kentucky school districts got no raise this year, report says

Ahead of the 2026 legislative budget cycle, teachers and advocates reup their calls for Kentucky to invest in education.

www.kentucky.com

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · Sep 30

kypolicy.org/aca-marketpl...

Costs on Kentucky’s Health Insurance Marketplace Will Explode Without Quick Action From Congress - Kentucky Center for Economic Policy

For the nearly 100,000 Kentuckians who signed up for plans on kynect this year, premium costs are on track to skyrocket.

kypolicy.org

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · Sep 30

If Congress doesn't extend expiring healthcare aid, costs will skyrocket for Kentuckians buying health insurance on kynect:

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · Sep 24

Find out more in @kypolicy.bsky.social
analysis of a new Kentucky Department of Education report here: kypolicy.org/state-report...

State Report Shows Educators in Most Kentucky School Districts Received Little or No Raise - Kentucky Center for Economic Policy

The typical Kentucky school district increased pay for teachers and other certified employees by 2% this year, with 40 districts giving no raise.

kypolicy.org

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · Sep 24

The typical KY school district increased teacher pay by only 2% this year, with 40 districts providing no raise at all. Inadequate state funding kept districts from gaining ground on eroding teacher salaries, which are 20% below inflation-adjusted 2008 levels 1/2

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · Sep 23

New $300 million budget shortfall, caused in large part by state income tax cuts, causing thousands of seniors to go on waiting list for meals
www.lpm.org/news/2025-09...

Thousands of senior Kentuckians likely to go back on the waitlist for meal support

Kentucky officials told agencies that provide senior nutrition programs that they will no longer receive a higher level of support that allowed them to eliminate waitlists.

www.lpm.org

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · Sep 16

Now the fallout from that choice--and from federal policies on tariffs, immigration and budget cuts that are weakening the economy--is starting to appear. 4/

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · Sep 16

It was always a losing bet to enact large, permanent cuts to Kentucky's largest revenue source--the individual income tax--based on temporary good times caused by federal COVID stimulus. 3/

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · Sep 16

Their initial forecast for the upcoming budget shows expected revenue next year being almost equal to revenue last year. That's bad news in an environment where inflation is rising and HR 1 shifts huge new costs to the Kentucky state budget. 2/

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Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · Sep 16

Today the state's forecasting body reduced the official revenue estimate for this year by $305 million in the face of a weakening economy and another reduction in the state individual income tax rate to 3.5% to take effect Jan. 2026. 1/

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