The Senate on Tuesday passed a version of the budget bill that would make even deeper cuts to Medicaid and health care than the House-passed version, while also slashing food assistance and public services nationwide.
AFSCME President Lee Saunders slammed the 50 senators who voted for it.
“We are deeply disappointed by the Senate’s decision to pass a dangerous budget that tears health care away from more than 20 million people, leaves millions of people without food assistance, and saddles all working families with higher costs,” he said.
While billionaires will walk away with trillions of dollars in tax cuts, the rest of us will pay a steep price. That includes caregivers who rely on Medicaid to keep their loved ones at home, hardworking parents who will struggle to afford groceries, and nurses worried about their patients losing care.
For months, AFSCME members have urged Congress to reject the bill that Saunders called “morally bankrupt.” But a narrow majority of senators voted to gut the health care, food assistance and public services our communities count on.
“Their distorted priorities will not only increase costs for working people but also ignite a fiscal catastrophe that will force states, counties, cities and towns to slash funding for local schools, hospitals, nursing homes, emergency response centers, colleges and other basic services or shut them down entirely,” Saunders warned.
But he said the fight is not over. As the budget bill moves back to the House for final passage, AFSCME members will keep organizing to protect our communities.
To defeat the bill, text GO to 237263. Join the fight and Get Organized.