“I Think That John James’s Plan Is For People To Die Faster” – Michigan Residents Call On Congressman John James To Reject Cuts To Medicaid
Last night, Michigan Families for Fair Care along with the Committee to Protect Health Care, For Our Future Action Fund Michigan and SEIU Healthcare Michigan held a rally to defend Medicaid and urge Congressman John James (MI-10) to reject a budget bill that decimates Medicaid’s funding.
“I’m here today to lift the voices of those in my community and our congressional district who will be directly harmed by cuts to essential programs just to fund more tax breaks for billionaires,” said Spencer Calhoun, Mount Clemens City Commissioner and former Medicaid beneficiary. “Social Security benefits were a lifeline for my family and kept a roof over our heads. Medicaid covered my medical bills and dentist visits. When I became homeless, they gave me stability to rebuild. Now, as a City Commissioner, I see how these programs keep thousands of Macomb residents afloat. Families are worried about their health care disappearing. We call on Rep. John James to hold a town hall in his district and to stand with us by rejecting tax breaks for billionaires and protecting the programs that keep our community alive.”
Rep. John James is a sitting member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and next week the committee is expected to mark up a budget bill that lays out how much funding will be slashed from Medicaid in order to finance tax breaks for billionaires. Gutting Medicaid would deal a fatal blow to the vulnerable. In James’s own district, over 180,000 people rely on Medicaid, 20,000 of whom are children under six years old. Lining the pockets of special interest groups, even for so-called economic gain, should not be financed by risking our children’s health.
Speakers from James’s own congressional district spoke and explained what Medicaid means to them and just how vital a resource it is for Michiganders’ health.
“We are here today to call somebody out. We are here to call somebody out because it has been made crystal clear, certainly in these last 100+ days, who is with us and who is not.” said Lt. Governor Gilchrist, “I think that John James’s plan is for people to die faster.”
“As a doctor, it is a fact that Medicaid coverage saves lives. People should not be deterred from accessing health care services from fear of bankruptcy or because the hospital is too far away because the closest one had to close down due to budget cuts,” said Dr. Christine “Chris” Crader, St. Clair Shores Internal Medicine Physician We live in the modern era where we can decide that the economic gain of the few does not outweigh the lives of the vulnerable. Congressman James, we ask that you listen to the Michiganders in your district and reject any proposal that would destroy Medicaid’s funding.”
Photos Available HERE
Cutting Medicaid in Michigan’s 10th congressional district would:
