Massachusetts Congressman Votes Against SNAP Rotisserie Chicken Proposal

When you're making a base salary of $174,000 annually and vote to deny a SNAP benefit recipient the opportunity to purchase a hot rotisserie chicken from the supermarket, one might suggest that you've lost touch with your constituency.

Especially when you are an ultra-super-duper progressive liberal like Massachusetts 2nd District Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern of Worcester.

Who Is Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern?

McGovern was elected to represent the 3rd District in 1996, which included portions of Southeastern Massachusetts, including Fall River. Following the 2012 redistricting, the 3rd District evaporated, and McGovern won a redrawn 2nd District seat that includes portions of Central and Western Massachusetts.

What the SNAP Rotisserie Chicken Amendment Would Change

Recently, McGovern was the sole Massachusetts congressional Democrat to vote against an amendment that would allow SNAP recipients to purchase hot rotisserie chicken.

Boston.com reported, "McGovern, who represents Worcester, was one of 35 no votes – 12 of which were from Democrats – on the amendment, which passed with 384 yes votes."

Currently, SNAP recipients cannot use SNAP benefits to purchase foods that are hot at the point of sale. The bipartisan amendment to include rotisserie chicken, supported by Democratic U.S. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, is part of a broader farm bill.

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Why McGovern Says He Opposed the Amendment

In a statement on X, McGovern said he supports another bill, the Hot Foods Act, which would allow SNAP recipients to buy "any hot food item at the grocery store, not just rotisserie chickens."

"Instead of the Hot Foods Act, these Republicans advanced a single-industry carve-out, pushed by lobbyists for big grocers and billionaire food conglomerates," he said.

McGovern also voted against a proposal to ban the use of SNAP benefits to purchase sugary drinks such as soda.