NEW $485,000 AD FEATURES LOCAL COUPLE CALLING OUT CONGRESSMAN TOM BARRETT FOR GUTTING MEDICAID WHILE PROTECTING TAX BREAKS FOR BILLIONAIRES

Today, Michigan Families for Fair Care launched a new $485,000 TV and digital ad buy as part of its $2.5 million campaign to hold Representative Tom Barrett accountable for his votes to gut Medicaid and his recent vote against bringing back ACA tax credits that would make health care costs affordable for working families across Michigan's 7th Congressional District.

"Congressman Barrett voted to gut Medicaid and give tax breaks to billionaires, and now he's voted against bringing back the ACA tax credits that lower health care monthly premiums for thousands of families in his district. It is hard to say that he prioritizes the actual needs of the people he’s elected to represent." said MI-07 resident Cynthia Burton. "We shouldn't have to choose between food and life-saving medication. Congressman Barrett needs to stop protecting billionaires and start looking out for working families who are struggling to afford health care."

The ad, "Cynthia and Keith," features Keith and Cynthia from Holt, whose family faces impossible choices about whether to pay for food or prescriptions after Congressman Barrett voted to cut Medicare and Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. Keith, who had to retire after suffering five strokes, relies on medication to survive.

Watch the full ad here.

Transcript of "Cynthia and Keith" below:

[Cynthia]: Keith was an interstate truck driver before he had to retire.

[Keith]: I've had five strokes.

[Cynthia]: Keith can't survive without this medicine. He would have another stroke. Tom Barrett voted to cut Medicare and Medicaid and give tax breaks for the billionaires. It’s a slap in the face. 

[Keith]: It makes me mad. 

[Cynthia]: We have to make really tough choices. Do we have food on the table? Do we get prescriptions? I wish Tom Barrett was looking out for us and not the billionaires.