A peaceful honk-and-wave rally to denounce proposed Republican-led budget cuts that threaten Medicaid brought out more than 200 concerned health care workers and community members. Ralliers demanded protection of Medicaid from the proposed Republican-led budget and highlighted the real-life impact of these proposed cuts with signs such as “Fire Musk; Save Medicaid;” “Save our rural hospitals-No Cuts to Medicaid; and “”Hands Off Medicaid.”
George Gresham, President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, released the following statement in response to the massive Medicaid cuts contained in the House budget resolution:
“The budget resolution passed [by Republicans in the House] would enact a vast tax giveaway to billionaires, funded by ripping away up to $880 billion in Medicaid funding that millions of Americans rely on. This would be a looting of our nation’s safety net on a massive scale, making our nation sicker and poorer. We call on members of Congress to stop these egregious cuts to prevent severe harm to working families, children, pregnant women, seniors, people with disabilities and all who rely on Medicaid for the care they need.”
Linda Swietlicki came all the way from Fulton County (NY21) and said, “People don’t even realize how many of us will be affected by these proposed Medicaid cuts that Rep. Stefanik voted for.”
“My son is on Medicaid and I wonder how this could affect him and what they want to cut next. Is anyone safe?” asked Debbie Morgan of New Hartford
Linda Shannon of Boonville said she attended the rally because “I know people on Medicaid and they won’t survive without it. That’s scary.”
Mag and Chris Perry from Newport said, “Taking away Medicaid takes away access for all of us in rural areas. Our hospitals will close and providers will leave without Medicaid paying the bills.”
Don Hughes, who lives in Hamilton and Syracuse, said “I’m here to send a message to Congress. We need to keep Medicaid. It plays a vital role for health care for children, people with disabilities, and the elderly.”
Medicaid funds the majority of births, supports nursing home residents, and helps sustain rural hospitals. If these cuts are passed, local healthcare systems will face devastating financial losses, endangering lives and critical healthcare jobs. The non–partisan Congressional Budget Office recently said that Republicans in Congress can’t meet their budget target without cutting Medicaid.
In New York’s 22nd Congressional District (NY-22), which includes southern Oneida County, more than 206,000 people rely on Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
These cuts could lead to a direct funding loss of nearly $2.6 billion for NY-22. In New York’s 21 st Congressional District (NY-21), covering northern Oneida County, the cuts could lead to losses of $2.4 billion for health and nursing care and negatively impact the more than 192,000 people covered by Medicaid or CHIP.
The rally, co-hosted by Indivisible Mohawk Valley (IMV) and 1199 SEIU, was held on Burrstone Road, near its intersection with Champlin Avenue, in New Hartford from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Monday, March 10.
