Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine optimistic shutdown 'doesn't last'

Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine said Wednesday the county had not seen any effects yet from the federal government shutdown but would be monitoring the situation closely.

“We don’t have a layer-cake government. We have a marble cake. Federal, state and local monies all work together to accomplish things throughout the United States,” Romaine said during a housing event in Central Islip. “We’re monitoring that carefully. We’re hopeful that the shutdown doesn’t last long and that people come to some type of agreement to continue negotiating and make sure the government continues."

Romaine, a Republican, said the funding of health care and social programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Program, or SNAP, were among his top concerns and he expected they would continue to function during the shutdown. Medicare and Medicaid payments to health care providers and the state will continue during the shutdown, with sufficient Medicaid funding available through Dec. 31, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

New York State said SNAP benefits for families will continue as normal until the end of October and families can continue to apply through local Departments of Social Services.

“We’re very hopeful this will be a short duration, and the federal representatives come to their senses, cut an agreement and keep the government running, so we can all benefit from federal services,” Romaine said.

By Jonathan LaMantia

jonathan.lamantia@newsday.com@jonlamantia

Jonathan LaMantia covers residential real estate and other business news on Long Island. He previously covered the business of health care for Crain's New York Business.