Food Program For Women, Kids OK For 4-5 Weeks

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - The state of Michigan says there is enough money to keep providing healthy food to low- and moderate-income pregnant women and children for about a month.

Earlier this week Gov. Rick Snyder's administration expressed concerned that federal funding might only last for 10 days due to the partial shutdown of the federal government. But the state Department of Community Health says "spend forward" money and reallocated funding will sustain the program for four to five weeks.

The Women, Infants and Children, or WIC, program provides food and baby formula to women and children up to age 5. More than half of the babies born in Michigan are enrolled in the program.

State Budget Director John Nixon, earlier this week, said Michigan stood to lose  as much $18 million-a-day during the federal government shutdown.

Nixon says 40 percent of the state's budget comes from the federal government.

In Washington, the standoff continues after a White House summit with chief executives as financial leaders and Wall street on Wednesday urged a resolution before serious damage is done to the U.S. and world economy

With the nation's ability to borrow money soon to lapse, Republicans and Democrats alike said the shutdown could last for two weeks or more, and soon oblige a divided government to grapple with both economy-threatening issues at the same time. (More on this, HERE).

MORE: Fed Shutdown Would Mean $18 Million-A-Day Loss To Michigan

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