A veterans forum Friday organized by Orange County U.S. Rep. Dave Min, a Democrat, quickly turned into a gripe session about the sky-high cost of living.<\/p>\n
At the forum, held at Irvine Valley College, several dozen veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces spoke of difficulties getting SNAP benefits, delays in receiving their monthly educational aid and the near impossibility of finding affordable housing in one of the most expensive markets in the country.<\/p>\n
The event was organized by Min, who represents the 47th Congressional district, including Irvine, Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, to gather veteran feedback on the government shutdown and other issues. Min took questions for more than an hour from student veterans and college staff, many of them veterans as well. Min wondered aloud whether some of the concerns stemmed from cuts to federal funding and personnel under President Donald Trump, compounded by the shutdown.<\/p>\n
One veteran, Roberto Gonzalez, thanked Min for foregoing his salary during the government shutdown. \u201cI wish it ended,\u201d Min said of the shutdown, noting that the House of Representatives has been out of session for more than seven weeks.<\/p>\n
Min spoke gingerly about who\u2019s to blame for the shutdown, a reflection of the deeply partisan tension over the issue. Min\u2019s district is nearly evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. But he appeared to criticize Republicans, without actually mentioning the party, for not trying to negotiate an end to the stalemate.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have not been asked for my vote, not once,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
When one student asked how Min could help them get job training while in school, Min said his office has an internship program \u2014 but they\u2019re currently not accepting applications because of the shutdown.<\/p>\n
Min said Democrats would continue \u201cholding the line,\u201d in hopes of forcing Republicans to negotiate the extension of health care subsidies that some You can calculate your expected increase using the foundation\u2019s Food pantry needs up due to lack of SNAP benefits<\/p>\n Briana Bell, who coordinates Irvine Valley College\u2019s basic needs program, told LAist at the event that she\u2019s seen a sharp increase in both students and community members at the college\u2019s food pantry as the federal government continues to withhold SNAP benefits during the shutdown.<\/p>\n Bell said she doesn\u2019t turn community members away, even though students are the pantry\u2019s priority, but gives them a list of other food pantries in Orange County. She gives the list to students, too, with a word of advice: \u201cYou can go to more than one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n 22 million Americans<\/a>
\n currently receive under the Affordable Care Act. The subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year, and if they do, health care premiums for enrollees would increase by an average of 114%, or an estimated $1,016 a year, according to the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation.<\/p>\n
\n online tool<\/a>
\n .<\/p>\n