Republicans battling behind scenes over funding SNAP during shutdown

Cracks are forming in the Senate GOP conference over whether benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) should be allowed to lapse this weekend.

Republicans have been unified throughout the shutdown in voting 13 times for a House-passed bill to reopen the government, but there are divisions on the SNAP issue, which could leave millions without crucial benefits.

Expiration of food assistance funding is expected to impact nearly 42 million A...