Hudson Valley Residents Push Back on State of the Union Claims, Question Rep. Lawler’s Support for Rising Costs

NY-17 Families Say Tariffs and Health Care Cuts Tell a Different Story

NYACK, NEW YORK — Residents in Nyack share their thoughts after Tuesday’s State of the Union Address: 

“While the president boasted about his accomplishments, everyday New Yorkers on the ground know the real story,” said Kristi, a mom from Pearl River “The economy is not working for everyday people and the deck is stacked against us.” 

“Medicaid cuts — these are medical insurance cuts to the poorest people, the most underprivileged people in the country. That is unconscionable,” said Robert, a retired merchant marine living in Tappan, “Tax cuts for billionaires, that is unconscionable.”

Constituents are especially worried about rising costs from tariffs and cuts to health care, particularly Affordable Care Act tax credits, which helped 4,000 in Rep. Lawler’s district afford coverage. A recent report found that American consumers bore 95% of tariff costs through higher prices on everyday goods and estimated that New York families paid $1,744.75 in tariffs. Another report revealed that one Peekskill resident saw her insurance premium spike by $10,000, to nearly $29,000 a year, after Rep. Lawler failed to save health care tax credits, which expired late last year. 

Rather than fight back against false claims by the President, Rep. Lawler immediately praised the State of the Union, calling it “very good” and saying it delivered “beautiful moments” in an interview on FOX News. Speaking on CNN shortly after, Lawler said he “doesn’t think anyone has used the gallery as effectively as the President.” 

Calls for Rep. Lawler to stop supporting health care cuts are growing louder across the district, with residents holding him publicly accountable through lawn signs, community forums, and two heavy-hitting ads featuring a cancer survivor whom Lawler aimed to silence, and a recent retiree deeply concerned about soaring health care costs.

"Between rising premiums, threats to Medicare, cuts to Medicaid, and expired health care tax credits, families here are being squeezed from every direction,” said Zachary Tirgan, Regional Organizing Director for Empire State Voices. “Hudson Valley residents deserve leadership that lowers costs and protects health care, not policies that make life more expensive.”
 

To learn more about Empire State Voices, contact press@empirestatevoices.org