Democrats are doing their best to hold the line on SNAP funding. Normally, the person who would take the lead in an effort like this would be the ranking member of the Agriculture committee, Rep. David Scott. But that’s not how the current effort is playing out. Instead, Democrats appear to be quietly bypassing Scott by setting up a separate task force on the issue.

Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries in late May assembled a task force on agriculture and nutrition led by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) to respond to ongoing GOP efforts to restrict the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, which serves more than 40 million low-income Americans. It’s a role that traditionally would be filled by Democrats on the chamber’s Agriculture Committee, led by the current ranking member, Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.).

Thompson denies there is anything out of the ordinary about the move, saying in an interview that, “We do task forces all the time.” But a dozen current and former lawmakers, Hill staff and lobbyists said the creation of a parallel body to play attack dog on the issue is highly unusual, if not unprecedented…

“Scott wasn’t doing a ton or as much as I think was expected,” said a former House Democratic aide, who was granted anonymity to discuss their former workplace. “If the ranking member isn’t leading on it, there’s … a vacuum of leadership.”

One senior Democrat who serves on the Agriculture Committee and was granted anonymity to speak candidly about Scott’s leadership of the committee minority, said, “It is what it is, and you see, you know.”

So what is it that people working close to him know about Rep. Scott? Last year Politico published a story based on interviews with 28 people, a number of whom raised concerns about Rep. Scott’s health, specifically citing indications that his age is catching up to him.

Some House Democrats say Scott has been unable to maintain control of routine committee hearings to keep Republicans from running roughshod over Democrats on key priorities such as climate-related agriculture programs and their now-stalled $1.7 trillion social spending bill…

One House Democrat recently tried to intervene with Scott directly, according to five of the House Democrats interviewed for this story. They said this member, whom fellow lawmakers wouldn’t name, spoke with Scott about specific questions about his health to try to persuade him to cede the gavel ahead of the farm bill talks…

”It’s not really his physical health. He struggles getting around,” said another Democrat on the agriculture panel. “But there are real questions about whether he’s with it.”…

“It is alarming,” said one USDA staffer who has known Scott for more than a decade.

 The creation of the task force is a pretty clear indication that Democrats have decided to work around the problem rather than embarrass Rep. Scott. The story published today indicates that Scott is not expected to run for office again next year, so they are just trying to get him across the finish line.

Everyone in leadership had denied there is a problem. I guess that means Rep. Scott is well liked but it could also mean that top Democrats are seeking to avoid talking about age-related mental problems heading into the 2024 election. Because, really, how could the party discuss Rep. Scott’s problems openly without also raising identical questions about President Biden or Sen. Fetterman or Sen. Feinstein. If you call on Rep. Scott to step aside, where do you stop?

Normally, you’d expect Democrats to jump all over a sign of weakness involving Sen. Mitch McConnell but they’ve been remarkably understanding about his senior moment. It’s almost like they know this isn’t a fight they can win.

All of this is pretty sad to watch. None of these people really belong in office at this point. But it seems that so long as both parties have something to lose, no one wants to kick over the geriatric house of cards in Washington.