Washington DC — Today, GOP Speaker Kevin McCarthy outlined the Republican agenda for an upcoming debt ceiling bill. Republicans are seeking broad and devastating cuts to health care programs, including so-called work requirements and other draconian policies that would raise costs and rip away coverage from millions of Americans. These policies are especially harmful to children, rural Americans, people of color, and older adults. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement:
“Kevin McCarthy’s latest stunt confirms that Republicans are fighting to hold our economy hostage so they can slash vital health care programs. More Americans are covered under the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid than ever before, but Republicans want to roll back this progress and throw moms and kids off the rolls with burdensome paperwork requirements — all so they can preserve tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. Republicans are once again showing us who they truly are by proposing deep and devastating cuts to health care, completely disregarding what the American people want and need to stay healthy. If Republicans truly cared about the state of the economy for working families, they would try to tackle rising health care costs instead of ripping away coverage from millions.”