I’ve written an open letter to my congressional representative Nydia Velazquez.

Do not reopen the government without real concessions from the Republicans. Instead, you should ADD to our demands for passing the budget. Since they let SNAP expire, risking hundreds of thousands of lives in America, add a new condition for passing the budget: an expansion to SNAP.

The Republicans are tantamount to terrorists. The naked hypocrisy of demanding a “clean” budget bill from us when this is exactly the hostage taking they have engaged in for years is as baffling as it is vile.

Do NOT re-open the government without extending ACA subsidies, providing back-pay to all federal workers impacted, expanding SNAP, and requiring that SNAP is funded through any future government shutdowns.