SE Kansas Derek Schmidt discusses U-S military staying strong and SNAP issues

Southeast Kansas Congressman Derek Schmidt on the KZRG Morning Newswatch said that military technological superiority remains a constant focus for the Armed Services Committee to maintain US advantage over adversaries.

According to Schmidt, our adversaries are not sitting still:

“And we have to be equally dedicated to maintain that advantage. You want to deter conflict by being sure, as President Reagan said, peace through strength by your adversaries, knowing that it would be foolhardy to launch any type of a frontal assault on the United States or our forces around the world. And we’ve got to be committed to maintaining that. And I believe we are. But it is a constant process.”

Southeast Kansas Congressman Derek Schmidt also discussed the 10+ million dollar federal funding that has been threatened to be withheld from Kansas due to Governor Kelly’s refusal to share SNAP benefits data with the Trump administration.

The federal government sets rules and provides 100% funding while states administer the SNAP program with no financial stake.

Unlike Medicaid where states pay approximately one-third of costs, SNAP creates a disconnect between administration and financial responsibility.

The Kansas error rate of 8-9% last year, previously in double digits, exceeds the acceptable 6% standard maximum.

Congressional response created incentive structure linking state error rates to federal SNAP payments for states exceeding 6% threshold.

The Kansas State attorney general has sued the governor over data release refusal, indicating a legal resolution pathway.

Schmidt advocates for a cooperative approach between state and federal governments rather than adversarial relationship.