Locals Rally To Protest Republican Budget Bill Slashing Benefits to Mohawk Valley Residents But Boosting Billionaires Fortunes
UTICA – On Thursday, July 3rd, 50 community members gathered in front of the Federal Building in Utica to express a combination of sadness and outrage at the budget bill just passed by Senate and House Republicans. The bill slashes Medicaid, SNAP and other services that many community members and the local economy depend on while giving billionaires more tax breaks and adding more than $3 trillion to the national debt. Cutting the amount of federal spending on Medicaid harms the people who rely on it for their health care but also local hospitals and nursing homes. Hospitals and nursing homes, which employ thousands of people in Oneida County, need Medicare payments to stay solvent and continue providing services for Medicaid and non-Medicaid patients alike. In Oneida County, 25% of the population is enrolled in Medicaid. There are zero billionaires in Oneida County. 64% of Medicaid recipients are working but do have health insurance from their employer. The other 36% of Medicaid recipients are exempt, usually because they are a caregiver, ill themselves, or in school.
The Republican bill also was also a victory for the drug industry because it makes more medications exempt from Medicare’s price negotiation program. The price negotiation program was created to lower the government’s drug spending. Now manufacturers will be able to keep those medication prices higher, helping the drug industry and harming consumers.
Community members attending the peaceful protest talked about their concerns.
William Hall of Whitesboro said “Shame on the GOP for passing a bill that demonstrates unbridled sadistic cruelty– taking food from the food insecure and health care from all of us so billionaires can get bigger tax cuts.”
Candace Kugel and Ed Zuroweste of Clinton said “We have worked in healthcare our whole careers and we are angry that millions of people will lose their healthcare. Thousands of people will die.”
Blair Genther, army veteran and Meocha Genther, army veteran ( former drill sergeant) from Rome stated “Our military does not belong on the streets of an American city. Our troops should not be used against American citizens. This is not what our brothers and sisters in uniform died for.”
Kathleen Houser of Rome attended because “Children and the elderly will suffer the most. I can’t believe they are cutting food, Medicaid for people in nursing homes. I live in NY21 where north country rural hospitals will close. And I hold Elise Stefanik responsible.”
The weekly rallies are organized by Indivisible Mohawk Valley
Photos and videos from the events are below and at the links here:
