House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), Governor Tony Evers (D-WI) Headlined Nationwide Events
Over the past week, members of Congress, local elected officials, and advocates joined events in Arizona, California, Iowa, Maine, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin, calling on Republicans to put an end to their war on health care. Right now, Republicans are trying to cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. At the same time, they’re trying to raise premium costs by taking away critical tax credits from working families. Recent polling from Hart Research and Protect Our Care found there is broad opposition across party lines to major elements of the Republican health care agenda. Republican lawmakers are turning their backs on their constituents and their own voters by waging a war on health care.
Next week, Protect Our Care will continue with events in Alaska, California, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and West Virginia.
HEADLINES
Axios: Democrats Hammer GOP on Medicaid After Weeks of Turmoil
- “Jeffries also held a press conference with Congressional Black Caucus chair Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), saying Democrats will do ‘everything we have to do to stop these cuts from ever taking effect.’”
NY1: House Democrats Hold ‘Medicaid Day of Action’ to Call Attention to Expected Cuts
- “‘Republicans have proposed the largest Medicaid cut in American history,’ Jeffries said at a nonprofit health clinic in Brooklyn, New York, which was attended by health care providers and Medicaid recipients. ‘It will devastate children, families, people with disabilities, older Americans, women and everyday Americans in this community, in the city of New York and across the country.’”
WKOW: Sen. Baldwin Stops in Madison to Discuss Potential Medicaid Cuts With Wisconsin Families
- “The bottom line is clear – people are really scared, and sadly, they have good reason to be,” she said. “Republicans’ plan to slash Medicaid so they can fund their tax breaks for people like Elon Musk is wrong – and I am proud to stand with Wisconsinites and fight back.”
Arizona Mirror: ‘Make Them Fear Voters More Than Trump’: Kelly, Gallego Rally Against GOP Medicaid Cuts
- “Kelly said that the ‘real stories’ of those who will be directly harmed by the cuts that President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans will pursue — a ‘high probability,’ in his estimation — to offset the cost of tax cuts are the most powerful weapons that voters have.”
13NewsNow: Congressman Bobby Scott Hosts Medicaid Roundtable Amid Fears of Cuts
- “More than 1.4 million Virginians rely on Medicaid. ‘Everyone is one illness away from possibly being a Medicaid recipient,’ said Sparkle Edwards.”
13NewsNow: Hampton Roads Caregivers Raise Alarm About Possible Cuts to Medicaid: ‘Devastated, Afraid and Shocked’
- “‘We need to make sure that people know that we are fighting for them and particularly don’t want people to think that they could lose their healthcare,’ Scott said. ‘All because Republicans want to fund tax cuts for the wealthy.’”
WAVY: Rep. Scott Hosts Medicaid Roundtable in Norfolk
- “‘House Republicans and President Trump have made their intentions clear,’ Scott said. ‘They’re going to try to cut the Medicaid program.’ The proposal includes $880 billion in cuts to the two programs under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.”
Alaska Beacon: ‘We Are Done Waiting!’ Advocates and Supporters of Alaskans With Disabilities Rally at the Capitol
- “‘If they cut Medicaid, not everybody is going to get their needs met. Not everybody’s going to have the correct medical coverage that they need. Not everybody’s going to be able to do the home modifications that they need,’ Kveum said. ‘So that’s why we’re here, and that’s why we’re advocating, so that people with disabilities that are seen and unseen can get services.’”
Virginia Mercury: ‘Not on Our Watch’: McClellan Stresses Congressional Fight to Defend Medicaid From Potential Cuts
- “With over one million people in Virginia on Medicaid, about 630,000 of those could stand to lose coverage should Republicans in Congress cut federal funding, Democratic state lawmakers have stressed. U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, added her voice to the chorus of warnings at a press conference at the statehouse on Tuesday afternoon. ‘We are here to say, ‘not on our watch and not without a fight,’’ McClellan said during her visit to Virginia’s Capitol.”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania Advocates Warn of Devastating Impacts as Federal Medicaid Cuts Loom
- “As the nation’s largest public health insurance program braces for massive cuts, Pennsylvania advocates are warning about what the state stands to lose. People with disabilities experiencing longer wait times for services that help them live independently, nursing homes losing funds for long-term care, children missing crucial health screenings — those were a few possibilities cited by policy experts during a virtual news conference on Tuesday.”
Times West Virginian: Protestors Demand Accountability From Congressional Republicans in Morgantown
- “‘Half of our budget in West Virginia is federally funded,’ Shayla Klein, secretary for Mountaineers Indivisible, said. ‘Riley Moore knows this. He was the former treasurer. He’s our representative and he wants to cut funding for our federal programs. Doing any cuts to Medicaid would devastate West Virginia.’”
Politics PA: ‘Where is Scott Perry?’: Progressive Group Holds Town Hall, With Focus Largely on Medicaid Cuts
- “As Republican lawmakers across the United States face backlash during town hall meetings, or refuse to host them at all, one group in central Pennsylvania held their own town hall Wednesday evening to tell U.S. Rep. Scott Perry how they feel about proposed Medicaid cuts, among other concerns.”
PennLive: ‘Where is Scott Perry?’: Progressive Group Holds Town Hall, With Focus Largely on Medicaid Cuts
- “As Republican lawmakers across the United States face backlash during town hall meetings, or refuse to host them at all, one group in central Pennsylvania held their own town hall Wednesday evening to tell U.S. Rep. Scott Perry how they feel about proposed Medicaid cuts, among other concerns.”
The Keystone: Scott Perry Isn’t Holding Town Halls. His Constituents Did One Anyway, Aiming Ire at Trump, Musk
- “Hundreds of Congressman Scott Perry’s (R-York) constituents crammed into AFSCME Council 13’s union hall just outside of Harrisburg on Wednesday for a town hall event, but there was one problem. Perry wasn’t in attendance.”
WGAL: US Rep. Scott Perry’s Constituents Urge Him to Protect Their Health Care
- “‘Medicaid is the basic safety net that allows Pennsylvanians to survive. When you’re in your hardest time, the most vulnerable people need support sometimes to get access to health care,’ Catanese said.”
LA Times: Protesters Slam O.C. Republican Over Feared Trump Medi-Cal Cuts
- “The group of about 200 workers, their supporters and constituents of Kim decried potential cuts to Medi-Cal, as Medicaid is known in California, and excoriated President Trump and tech titan Elon Musk, head of DOGE. The administration’s budget resolution proposes billions in tax and spending cuts.”
LA Times: After Party Rift on Shutdown, California Democrats Try to Refocus Budget Fight on Medicaid
- “‘Our budget should be a statement of our national values. What is important to us should be reflected in that budget. But what we see now is an assault on our values as they make this assault on our budget,’ Rep. Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday at a UC San Francisco medical facility in her district, flanked by several other members of Congress, local doctors, community advocates and Medicaid recipients.”
LA Times: ‘I Wish You’d Be Angry.’ California Democrats Face Voter Fury Over Trump, Elon Musk
- “Republican lawmakers who haven’t held town halls have seen protests outside their district offices. This week, about 200 healthcare workers, their unions and their supporters protested potential cuts to Medi-Cal, as Medicaid is known in California, outside the Anaheim Hills office of Rep. Young Kim.”
SF Chronicle: A Tale of Two Events: GOP Congressman Deflects on Medicaid Cuts, as Democrats Pounce
- “On Tuesday, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, joined Sen. Adam Schiff and others in San Francisco for a press conference to raise the alarm about the dangers of cutting Medicaid, which roughly 1 in 3 Californians relies on for some form of health care.”
Bakersfield Californian: Democratic Congressman to Hold Town Hall in Bakersfield
- “‘I want to hear from people directly impacted by Trump’s mass firings and the Republicans’ $880 billion in Medicaid cuts,’ Khanna said in a description of the event.”
Bakersfield Californian: Valadao Responds to Democrat’s Visit
- “Khanna said Republicans are following orders to ‘dodge their constituents’ protests,’ referring to advice from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, to not hold town-hall style meetings. Johnson claims paid protesters use such meetings to create a false narrative, according to the Associated Press.”
Bakersfield Californian: Second Out-Of-Town Democrat Announces Bakersfield Visit
- “The town hall-style event comes just before another Democratic representative, Santa Clara’s Ro Khanna, will make an appearance at the Martin Luther King Jr. Park Community Center in Bakersfield at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.”
WisPolitics: Protect Our Care: Sen. Baldwin sounds the alarm against GOP plans to slash Medicaid funding at Madison roundtable
- “This week, I’ve been traveling across the state to talk with families about what’s at stake as Republicans work overtime to terminate their health care and rip the rug out from under them,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin.
Washington Examiner: Fractured Democrats Grasp for Unity During ‘Day of Action’
- Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) will hold a press conference Tuesday morning with Protect Our Care and plans to hold a town hall that evening.These events and town halls come after Republicans were warned by National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC) to stop holding in-person town hall meetings following the backlash Republicans have seen over Department of Government Efficiency cuts led by billionaire Elon Musk.
Alaska Current: Alaskans Turn To Empty-Chair Town Halls as Sullivan, Begich Duck Outrage Over Trump
- “Concerned Citizens of Juneau will hold its town hall at the Mendenhall Public Library on Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m.The 907 Initiative is teaming up with several groups for an Anchorage town hall at the Loussac Library from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, titled the “Doormat Dan and Chicken Nick Town Hall.”
Lehigh Valley News: Hundreds Rally With Democrats Over Medicaid Threats, Trump Cuts
- “More than 400 people filled the pews of a Southside church Thursday evening for a town hall meeting lacking its guest of honor, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie.”
Morning Call: At People’s Town Hall, Lehigh Valley residents and politicians attack Ryan Mackenzie, national Republicans
- “Lehigh Valley residents and national and local politicians went on the attack at a People’s Town Hall in Bethlehem, criticizing Republican spending cuts that they fear threaten Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, and accusing their congressman, Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, of not meeting with his constituents.”
TELEVISION
- WGAL: Calls for Townhalls
- WGAL: Advocates Hold Their Own Townhall
- KYW: Advocates sound the alarm on cuts to Medicaid
- KYW: Advocates discuss the dangers of Medicaid cuts
- WGAL: Frustration Boils Over
- WGAL: Where is Scott Perry?
- SPNWS: Senator Baldwin Continues Her “Hands Off Medicaid Tour”
- KYW: Pennsylvanians host their own townhall
- WFMZ: Pennsylvanians call out Rep. Mackenzie for voting to cut Medicaid
- WAVY: Rep. Scott hosts Medicaid roundtable in Norfolk
- WRIC: Rep. Scott hosts Medicaid roundtable