Tom Barrett Must Return to Work and Solve the Shutdown and Health Care Crisis

As the government shutdown continues and critical health care affordability issues loom, the House of Representatives remains out of session with Speaker Mike Johnson keeping lawmakers away for three consecutive weeks. Congressman Tom Barrett has yet to provide answers for what he plans to do to keep health care affordable for the Michiganders he represents.

Cynthia Burton, a constituent in Michigan's 7th District, shared her frustration: "I tried reaching out to Congressman Barrett's office to ask about the healthcare crisis and what he plans to do about families like mine who can't afford our premiums to double. His staff sidelined me, wouldn't give me real answers, about the actions our congressman would take to address this crisis. Meanwhile, real people are going to be hurt by this—we're talking about families losing their health insurance, kids going without food because WIC might run out of money. And where is he? He's not in DC fighting for us, and he's not here in the district facing us either. Congressman Barrett must act to protect affordable health care and the vulnerable relying on him in this district."

Barrett voted for the Republican Tax Law that enacted the largest cuts to Medicaid in history and prioritized tax breaks for billionaires over affordable healthcare. Now, over 20,000 people in MI-07 face doubled premiums and 14,000 will lose access to health care due to Medicaid cuts. This is a crisis and he refuses to face his constituents or return to Washington to solve the problems he helped create. Actions speak louder than words, and Barrett's actions show he cares more about protecting tax breaks for the wealthy than protecting healthcare for Michigan families.