THE AD MIKE LAWLER DOESN’T WANT YOU TO SEE: Pearl River Cancer Survivor Calls Out Rep. Lawler for His Abysmal Record on Health Care Costs
Empire State Voices is Launching a $2 Million Campaign Demanding Rep. Lawler Stop Voting to Make New Yorkers’ Health Care More Expensive
ROCKLAND COUNTY, NEW YORK — Today, at a rally at the ‘Four Corners’ intersection in Nanuet, Empire State Voices unveiled the first ad in a new $2 million digital and mail campaign, calling on Congressman Mike Lawler to stop voting to increase health care costs for working New Yorkers. Rep. Lawler is already threatening legal action in a desperate attempt to keep Hudson Valley residents from hearing the truth about the policies he has supported.
The ad features Tracey, a cancer survivor and single mother from Pearl River, whose battle with her illness led her to lose her health insurance, her retirement savings, and even her leg. Through a combination of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, Tracey was able to make it out the other side and reclaim control over her life. Now, she’s calling out Congressman Lawler for his abysmal voting record and demanding that he stop voting to raise New Yorkers’ health care costs.
“The cost of health care in this country is astronomical. It doesn’t matter if you’re healthy, have a good job, have good insurance—a single medical crisis can quickly snowball into total financial ruin,” said Tracey Obenauer, a cancer survivor and single mother from Pearl River. “When cancer took my leg, and it seemed my entire world was crumbling around me, it was Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act that saved my family. Without the care that they allowed me to access, I’m not sure where my kids and I would be today. I’m not even sure if I’d still be here. Congressman Lawler claims to care about lowering the cost of health care for New Yorkers like me, but his votes and actions tell a much different story. This weekend, he forcibly removed constituents from his town hall for trying to make their voices heard, and now he’s trying to silence me as well. Well, I won’t be intimidated. I’ll keep sharing my story until Rep. Lawler stops voting to raise costs for families like mine.”
“Congressman Lawler claims to care about lowering the cost of health care for New Yorkers like me, but his votes and actions tell a much different story.” -Tracey, Pearl River | CREDIT: Empire State Voices
Despite his rhetoric about affordability in a near-constant stream of cable news appearances, Congressman Lawler has voted to cut or otherwise undermine the very programs and services that help working New Yorkers like Tracey afford their health care. Last summer, Rep. Lawler helped pass the Republican Tax Law, which cut over $1 trillion from Medicaid, the Essential Plan, and other health care spending across New York. In total, these cuts are expected to force around 860,000 New Yorkers off their health insurance, potentially leading dozens of rural hospitals and clinics across the state to reduce services or even close their doors entirely. Rep. Lawler then decided to drag his feet and refused to support a three-year extension of expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits until it was too late, forcing thousands of Hudson Valley residents to face skyrocketing health insurance premiums in 2026.
But Rep. Lawler doesn’t want anyone to hear that hard truth. Instead of bullying Tracey and anyone who helps shed her light on her story into silence, Rep. Lawler should hear her words to understand the impact of his votes, and in the future, he should oppose policies that will make life harder for New Yorkers.
“Congressman Lawler seems far more concerned with cable news appearances and self-righteous rhetoric about ‘bipartisanship’ than he is with actually addressing the health care affordability nightmare that thousands of his constituents are grappling with each and every day,” said Zachary Tirgan, Regional Organizing Director for Empire State Voices. “Constituents like Tracey are standing up and speaking out because the people of the Hudson Valley are sick of Rep. Lawler’s hypocrisy. He claims to care about affordability, but his votes have actively endangered the health care of thousands of New Yorkers across his district, raising costs for families and even forcing some to forgo treatment entirely. Enough of the talk, it’s time for Rep. Lawler to act.”
Empire State Voices unveiled the first ad in a new $2 million digital and mail campaign, calling on Congressman Mike Lawler to stop voting to increase health care costs for working New Yorkers. | CREDIT: Empire State Voices
Read a transcript of "Tracey" here:
The day I found out I had cancer, my whole world changed,
And the costs were upwards of a million dollars.
Insurance companies denied further coverage due to a pre-existing condition.
I had to cash out my 401k to afford treatment.
When the Affordable Care Act passed, I could finally afford health care.
If it weren’t for the ACA, I would have to forgo health care coverage.
But Mike Lawler wants to take that away.
He voted to increase health care costs.
Congressman Lawler should know that families need healthcare now more than ever.
The costs are astronomical.
[Text: Tell Rep. Mike Lawler: Stop voting to make healthcare more expensive. (202) 225 6506]
To learn more about Empire State Voices, please reach out to press@empirestatevoices.org
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About Empire State Voices
Empire State Voices (ESV) is a multi-year campaign dedicated to amplifying the voices of everyday working New Yorkers. ESV is fighting for economic policies that make life more affordable for constituents and holding members of Congress across the state accountable when they fail to do the same.
