Congressman Lawler Caves to Pressure from His Constituents
After Weeks of Excuses, Rep. Lawler Finally Signs the Discharge Petition for a Three-Year Extension of Health Care Tax Credits
HUDSON VALLEY, NEW YORK — After voting to cut Medicaid, raise health care costs, and weeks of excuses, Congressman Mike Lawler has finally given in to pressure from his constituents and signed on to the discharge petition for a three-year extension of expiring health care tax credits. Though he wasn’t brave enough to go first, Rep. Lawler rushed to the House floor this morning after news broke of fellow Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick having joined the petition.
Congressman Lawler’s constituents have spent weeks demanding that he sign on to the discharge petition, holding press conferences, protests, and community forums, sharing their personal health care stories, and signing petitions of their own.
“Once another Republican took the bold step of signing the three-year extension discharge petition, Congressman Lawler was left with no choice and caved to the mounting pressure he’s been under back home. It’s about time,” said Dylan Wheeler, Regional Organizing Director for Empire State Voices. “But signing is just the first step—Lawler needs to actually vote for the underlying extension and against the Republican backed bills that would continue to raise prices and force New Yorkers off their health insurance. The time for soundbites and photoshoots is over. If Congressman Lawler truly cares about the lives and livelihoods of his constituents, he’ll start voting like it.”
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.
