ICYMI: Congressman Barrett Leaves Us Wondering About His Record Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid
On Thursday, in response to Congressman Tom Barrett’s vote to make massive cuts to Medicaid and SNAP to pay for tax breaks for billionaires, Michigan Families for Fair Care and For Our Future gathered with his constituents to call on the congressman to reverse these harmful cuts to vital social programs by voting against the Republican budget, which continues down a path of harm.
Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-7) voted for the Republican Tax Law, which gutted benefits like nutrition assistance programs cuts which are now impacting hundreds of thousands of Michiganders. Under the Republican Tax Law, an estimated 211,000 Michigan households will see their food benefits be reduced, while tens of thousands of people are expected to be dropped from the program altogether. When it comes to Medicaid, 260,000 Michiganders will lose their benefits because of the cuts enacted in the Republican Tax Law. Given the opportunity to reverse course and save his constituents from cuts, Rep. Barrett’s vote for the Republican budget continues to keep Michiganders on this dangerous path.
“Veterans face higher costs, longer wait times and fewer providers treating military-specific trauma,” said veteran Sarah Cook, who is medically retired from the U.S. Navy. “There are at least 1.2 million veterans living in households that participate in SNAP, nearly 1.6 million veterans are enrolled in Medicaid programs like Heroes To Hives, which have helped over 10,000 veterans, including myself, heal with beekeeping therapy that are now at risk due to federal funding freezes. As a veteran with PTSD, this program gave me purpose and peace, and a challenging time in my life and allowed me to participate in community when I needed it most. Losing it would be genuinely devastating to not just me, but the thousands of veterans who rely on it for healing, hope and service to ourselves and communities.”
"We are the ones that take care of our community. Government is supposed to assist us and help us, but what they're doing is crushing us,” said Jean Duchemin, VP of UAW local 1753. “They don't like us, especially when it comes to the homeless, when it comes to our seniors. They're taking the oxygen from our necks and saying, good luck to you.”
"Rep. Barrett is in Congress to stand up for working people—not to support the billionaire class,” said Steve Lawson, Michigan Families for Fair Care Executive Director. “When it mattered most, he voted yes on the Republican Tax Law, a massive tax giveaway that gutted Medicaid and SNAP just to hand more money to the ultra-wealthy. Health care, energy, and food costs skyrocketed for working families, and working families are paying the price.”
WLNS: 'Families Not Billionaires' rally held in Lansing
WLNS reporter Delaney Rogers: “People were urging Congressman Tom Barrett to hear their concerns, especially for those who use SNP benefits and Medicaid. People from the community came to speak about their experiences with these benefits and how they will be negatively impacted by the cuts that will come from the House budget that was passed last week.”
