After Losing Everything to Cancer, Rockland County Mom Tells Rep. Lawler: “Stop Cutting Medicaid!”
Empire State Voices Launches New Ad Highlighting Rep. Lawler’s Vote to Cut Medicaid to Fund Tax Breaks for the Ultra-Wealthy—Putting Hudson Valley Families at Risk
ROCKLAND COUNTY, NEW YORK — Today, Empire State Voices launched its latest ad featuring Hudson Valley cancer survivor Tracey. Tracey, a single mother in Pearl River, saw her life upended during her cancer battle—her job and savings gone—after her employer-sponsored insurance disappeared mid-treatment. Medicaid became her children's lifeline, helping the family survive and rebuild. Tracey’s ad is the latest installment in a $2 million digital ad campaign, highlighting Rep. Lawler’s record of putting billionaire interests ahead of his constituents' needs.
Rep. Mike Lawler voted to cut Medicaid and the programs that help Hudson Valley families like Tracey’s afford care. In NY-17 alone, 211,500 people rely on Medicaid, coverage now on the chopping block because of the Republican Tax Law that Rep. Lawler proudly supports. This issue is even more critical as families across the Hudson Valley are slammed by a punishing cost-of-living crisis.
“The cost of health care in this country is astronomical—one diagnosis can wipe out everything you’ve worked your whole life for,” said Tracey. “Cancer took my savings, it nearly took my life. Medicaid was a lifeline for my kids and our family. But Congressman Lawler voted to cut critical programs like Medicaid, which could raise costs for Hudson Valley families like mine, all so he can hand out tax breaks to the wealthy. That’s not leadership. Rep. Lawler needs to stop voting to cut Medicaid.”
Rep Lawler’s policies could leave over 860,000 New Yorkers uninsured, as Medicaid cuts and Affordable Care Act coverage become more expensive or out of reach. The stakes are high for constituents like Tracey.
For families across the Hudson Valley, these votes aren’t abstract—they are life-and-death decisions.
You can watch the full ad here.
Transcript of Tracey below:
“ In 2011, I was diagnosed with cancer in my leg that spread to my lungs. I had young kids, and we always struggled with healthcare costs. To afford my cancer treatment, I had to drain my 401k. Eventually, my kids got coverage through Medicaid, a lifeline for our family. But Congressman Mike Lawler voted to cut Medicaid after promising he wouldn't, harming New Yorkers. Having to make decisions on whether or not your children get to go to the doctor is devastating. Tell Mike Lawler: stop voting to cut Medicaid.”
To learn more about Empire State Voices, contact press@empirestatevoices.org.
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About Empire State Voices
Empire State Voices is a multi-year campaign dedicated to amplifying the voices of everyday working New Yorkers. We are 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.
