U.S. and state lawmakers say Georgians are feeling the impacts of the federal government shutdown

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U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (center) says Georgians are feeling the negative impacts of the federal government shutdown at a news conference Monday.

Credit: Sarah Kallis/GPB News

Democratic U.S. Reps. Lucy McBath and Hank Johnson, who both represent areas of metro Atlanta, joined the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus at the state capitol on Monday to sound the alarm about  effects Georgians are feeling from the government shutdown as it nears its fifth week. 

McBath said her constituents understand why Democratic U.S. senators are standing their ground on the shutdown and refusing to vote for a Republican resolution that reopens the government without extending health care subsidies.

"What I have heard over and over again is that, 'We understand what you're doing, we understand why you're doing it, because if we are not healthy — if we don't have access to affordable, accessible health care — then we can't work,'" she said. 

Johnson also said Democrats need to hold firm on their stance on health care. 

"Democrats are only asking for a few things, and that is to pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government that pays all military service members and federal employees and contractors what they are owed, and work with us to bring back Obamacare tax credits and subsidies to prevent millions of Americans from losing their health insurance," he said. 

Members of Congress are feeling the pressure as federal government employees are furloughed or working without pay. Food assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will run out of funding Nov. 1. 

State lawmakers at the event suggested Gov. Brian Kemp call a special legislative session to address SNAP funding gaps. But Kemp, a Republican, said in a social media post that it is "past time" for Georgia’s Democratic senators to vote for the Republican continuing resolution.