Republicans’ budget disaster creates billion-dollar shortfalls for states that cannot be filled; millions of Americans will lose access to health care, food benefits, and programs they rely on
WASHINGTON— Today, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) released a statement after the Republican-controlled Congress passed the budget reconciliation bill along strictly partisan lines. For months, Democratic state legislators across the country have warned that states won’t be able to make up the billion-dollar deficits created by slashing funding for life-saving programs like Medicaid and food assistance. State Republicans who backed the MAGA agenda are complicit in allowing their DC counterparts to pass this horrendous proposal that will jeopardize health care and services for millions of families while funding a tax handout to the wealthiest Americans.
Last month, the DLCC hosted a press conference with state legislators from across the country, highlighting how Medicaid cuts in particular will be felt in the states as 17 million people are expected to lose their health care coverage.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“Despite months of Democratic state legislators sounding the alarm on the dangers of this budget bill, today, Republicans in Congress screwed over millions of working families. Republicans know that these callous cuts to health care, food benefits, and taxpayer-funded programs create giant funding gaps that states cannot possibly make up. That means hospitals will shutter and kids will go hungry – all to pay for tax cuts for the ultra wealthy.
“State Republicans are just as responsible for this devastating law as their DC counterparts – they failed their constituents by allowing this bill to move forward unchallenged. State budgets are going to face a wrecking ball that will hurt families and their pocketbooks for years to come, and the blame lies squarely on Republicans at all levels for creating this disaster.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the campaign arm of Democratic state legislatures and leads the national strategy for building power and winning new majorities. Over the last three decades, we have strategized cycle over cycle to win majorities and lead the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level, winning nearly a dozen new chamber majorities over the last decade Our work has ensured that nearly half of Americans are represented by at least one Democratic majority in their statehouse. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class and advancing opportunity, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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