WASHINGTON, DC – Today U.S. Representative George Latimer (NY-16) voted against President Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill for the 2nd time in a month. This Republican budget will take away healthcare and food assistance from millions of vulnerable Americans, increase Affordable Care Act Exchange premiums by almost $3,000, and cut critical environmental protections.
Rep. Latimer said: “President Trump and Congressional Republicans made a promise to bring down costs and help working Americans. Instead, they have pushed this tax scam that will make life more expensive for families who need Medicaid and SNAP to survive and give significant tax cuts to billionaires and the ultra-wealthy. All while adding $3.3 trillion to our national debt.
196,000 people in my district who rely on Medicaid could have it taken away, including 73,000 children and 27,000 seniors. 74,000 people who rely on SNAP may not be able to put food on their tables, straining food banks that are already seeing high levels of need. New Yorkers will continue to pay more in federal taxes without a full restoration of the State and Local Tax deduction. And it guts environmental protections established by the Inflation Reduction Act.
People will get sicker. Hospitals will close. Kids will go hungry. Families will pay more for gas and home electric bills while our world continues to warm due to climate change. No matter how you spin it, everyday Americans will suffer.”
In addition to eliminating healthcare for 17 million Americans and cutting $300 billion in SNAP benefits, the Republican bill also cuts $150 billion in Medicaid payments to hospitals and other providers. These payments are needed to offset uncompensated care and are often what allow hospitals to stay open. These cuts will force hospitals to close, ending services for communities around the country.
The bill “defunds” Planned Parenthood, leaving more than a million women without access to needed care like cancer screenings and birth control. This bill will also increase Affordable Care Act Exchange premiums by an average of $2,890 for people in New York’s 16th district. Nearly 1 in 7 Americans are covered through a plan on the exchange.
In addition to healthcare and food assistance, the bill also rescinds or phases out environmental protections. including phasing out clean energy production and investment tax credits and ending long-standing home energy efficiency tax credits. This will increase home energy costs for New York families by an average of $300 a year.
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