New Yorkers Rally Against Rep. Mike Lawler’s Healthcare Cuts Ahead of the Looming Government Shutdown
“Don’t Shut Down Our Healthcare!”
PUTNAM COUNTY, NEW YORK — On Friday, Empire State Voices and Citizen Action of New York held a rally and press conference outside Rep. Mike Lawler’s Carmel district office, before getting in their cars and parading through towns across the district. The protestors drew attention to the Congressman’s unrelenting support for Republicans’ devastating cuts to Medicaid and state healthcare programs, which he helped pass into law earlier this year, as well as his support for ending healthcare tax credits for working-class families, which he stated this week.
In July, Congress passed the Republican Tax Law, which included over $100 billion in cuts to Medicaid, state health programs, and other healthcare spending in New York. These cuts are expected to force around 860,000 New Yorkers off their health insurance, which could lead to rural hospitals and clinics across the state reducing services or even closing their doors entirely. With a government shutdown looming, Rep. Lawler has refused to support any funding plans that would roll back these healthcare cuts or lower New Yorkers’ premiums.
Rep. Lawler has refused to support any funding plans that would roll back these healthcare cuts or lower New Yorkers’ premiums. | CREDIT: Empire State Voices
“As a healthcare provider whose patients rely heavily on Medicaid, this is a deeply concerning time,” said Zach, a disability services provider from Brewster. “No matter how Congressman Lawler tries to spin this, these cuts will harm the disabled community. Families will be buried under paperwork, and programs will lose funding. The disabled deserve better. The people of NY17 deserve better. Mike Lawler needs to step up and restore funding to Medicaid and other essential healthcare programs that his constituents depend on.”
"Mike Lawler needs to step up and restore funding to Medicaid and other essential healthcare programs that his constituents depend on." -Zach, Brewster | CREDIT: Empire State Voices
By failing to make the health care tax credits permanent for the 7,000 constituents in NY-17 who rely on them, a family of four earning $64,000 a year would see their premiums increase by $2,184, thanks to Rep. Lawler prioritizing tax breaks for billionaires over working-class families.
“The passage of the Tax Law this July, with its devastating cuts to Medicaid and the Essential Plan, has already put New York on the ropes,” said Casandra Chen of 1199SEIU. “Now, lawmakers must make the right choice and do what they can to protect their constituents' access to quality, affordable healthcare. We urge them to roll back these harmful cuts and make permanent the enhanced premium tax credits that are a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and support the health of their families and communities.”
To learn more about Empire State Voices, please reach out to press@empirestatevoices.org
###
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.
