Tell your representatives to vote no on proposed Medicaid, SNAP cuts
Congress is proposing $880 billion in cuts to the federal budget. The proposed cuts to Medicaid and the SNAP (food assistance) program will be devastating for so many. The population hurt the most will be children and our seniors. It will have a catastrophic impact on Medicaid. Medicaid goes by many names here in Wisconsin, such as IRIS, Badger Care, and PACE (elderly), to name a few.
These cuts hit home. Medicaid has over 1 million members, covering 20% of all Wisconsinites. It includes vaccines and prescriptions.
Medicaid also covers 40% of births; that’s two of every five children. SNAP benefits cover formula and baby food items. How can we have a healthy Wisconsin or a healthy nation without this?
For many older Wisconsinites, SNAP/FoodShare is a vital means of support for low-income seniors. SNAP is essential to their wellbeing. Medicaid, too, is often the only way they can afford long-term care, and this means 60% of the people in our nursing homes. Medicaid often fills gaps that Medicare doesn’t. Medicaid is also the only way to afford home health aides, or nursing support at home. This certainly is not a luxury way of life. It is a lifeline. In Wisconsin, our rural healthcare is already in dire straits; can you imagine the further harm this will do? These proposed cuts will only exacerbate the existing challenges. How can Wisconsin possibly bear the brunt of both of these cuts and still be a healthy state? It simply cannot.
Haven’t we seen enough of our friends and neighbors struggle to afford help, delay care, or go without food? Any cuts to MedicaidandFoodSharewouldbedevastating for seniors, for people with disabilities, and especially for our children.
Say NO to ripping away healthcare for so many. Say NO to the largest food assistance cuts. All these cuts, while claiming to curb fraud and abuse, are only to benefit tax breaks for the already wealthiest. There is no possible way for Wisconsin to pick up the entire tab without the federal dollars. Please call your person in Congress as well as your U.S. senators.
Nancy Stencil
Wausau
