LANSING, MICHIGAN — This week, MLive reported that a Lansing-area nurse was removed from a June 16 panel in Charlotte after repeatedly pressing Congressman Tom Barrett and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the Medicaid cuts in the Republican Tax Law — cuts that threaten health coverage for thousands of working families across Michigan’s 7th Congressional District. Neither official answered her. RFK Jr. has continued touting Medicaid cuts as he has visited several Republican congressmen across the state, including a recent visit to MI-04 to see Congressman Bill Huizenga.
Ashley, a registered nurse from the Lansing area, came to the America First Policy Institute event, asked a question about the impending health care cuts but was then escorted out.Barrett, who helped organize the event, never addressed the Medicaid cuts he voted for and Kennedy brushed the same concerns aside when another attendee raised them. Ashley was also featured in a recent ad, calling out Tom Barret for supporting high costs for working Michiganders.
“I went to that event to finally get answers to questions that have been unavoidable in my every day life. I’m a nurse, I see every day what happens when people can’t afford care. They skip medications, they put off seeing a doctor, and they get sicker.” said Ashley, DeWitt nurse. “Congressman Barrett voted for the Republican Tax Law that cut health care for working families and let our coverage costs more than double. I went to ask him what he’s doing about it, and got no answers. Congressman Barrett, stop raising costs on families, and start fighting for affordable health care.”
According to MIRS, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the Republican Tax Law would cut federal Medicaid spending by billions over 10 years, leaving 10 million Americans, and tens of thousands of residents in MI-07, without health insurance by 2034.
“Ashley said out loud what families across this district are living every day: we have to put access to affordable health care above all else, not tax cuts for billionaires,” said Steve Lawson, Executive Director of Michigan Families for Fair Care. “Congressmen Barrett and Huizenga voted for the Republican Tax Law that made the largest cuts to Medicaid in the program’s history and let health care tax credits expire, causing premiums to more than double for thousands of their constituents. Michigan families need representatives who will fight to lower their health care costs. Congressmen Barrett and Huizenga, cannot be bailed out by officials like RFK Jr, and instead should stop putting billionaire tax cuts ahead of the families you were elected to serve, and start protecting their access to affordable health care.”
Read the full piece from MLive HERE
