***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 19***
This Week Protect Our Care Will Release Ads, Run Billboards, Host 10+ Events With Elected Officials and Advocates
Today, Protect Our Care is hosting events across five states to blast the GOP’s latest budget plan that will put billionaires over American health care. Recent reporting shows congressional Republicans intend to slash Medicaid funding by at least $880 billion and up to $2 trillion to give tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy and big corporations, resulting in millions losing coverage, including children, new moms, seniors, and people with disabilities. Americans across party lines oppose cuts to Medicaid, and new polling finds that a majority of Americans think the government should spend more on health care — not less. Throughout the week, speakers will discuss how these unpopular cuts will hurt families and call on lawmakers to protect access to health care, not take it away.
This week, Protect Our Care is also expanding its “Hands Off Medicaid” campaign to defend Medicaid from devastating cuts with 10 ads, seven billboards, and a mobile billboard in 10 key House districts. This latest investment of nearly $1 million began Saturday, February 15, and will run for two weeks starting as members of Congress return home for recess. Watch Protect Our Care’s ads here, view the billboards here, and watch the New York mobile billboard here.
NEW YORK
WHO:
U.S. Representative Laura Gillen (NY-04)
Assembly Member Michaelle Solages
1199SEIU members
Cynthia Ngombe, Healthcare Education Project
WHAT: Medicaid Defense Press Conference
WHEN: Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 9:45 AM ET
WHERE: Rep. Gillen’s District Office, 229 7th Street, Suite 102, Garden City, New York 11530
PENNSYLVANIA
WHO:
Make the Road PA
Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans
PA Stands Up
Pennsylvania State Education Association
Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates
Service Employees International Union
Working Families Party
PA-07 Constituents
WHAT: Medicaid Defense Press Conference
WHEN: Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 12 PM ET
WHERE: Congressman Ryan Mackenzie’s District Office, 1125 S Cedar Crest Blvd Suite 109, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18103
NORTH CAROLINA
WHO:
U.S. Representative Deborah Ross (NC-02)
State Rep. Sarah Crawford
Haywood Watson, NC Retired Storyteller
Vanessa Watson, Protect Our Care North Carolina
WHAT: Medicaid Defense Virtual Press Conference
WHEN: Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 1:30 PM ET
WHERE: Register here (Registration required)
MAINE
WHO:
State Rep. Annie Graham, retired Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Marie Follaytarr, a survivor of a rare Leukemia
Toby McGrath, Protect Our Care Maine
WHAT: Medicaid Defense Press Conference
WHEN: Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 2 PM ET
WHERE: 84 Marginal Way Suite 600, Portland, ME 04101
CALIFORNIA
WHO:
SEIU health care workers and providers
Patient storytellers
Local health care organizations
Labor unions
WHAT: “Hands Off Medi-Cal” Town Hall
WHEN: Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 6 PM PST // 9 PM ET
WHERE: Corona City Center, 365 N. Main St. Corona, CA 92880