1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Republicans are advancing a budget reconciliation bill to fund tax cuts for the wealthy that, if finalized, will necessitate millions in Medicaid cuts. Medicaid provides health insurance for 72 million low-income and disabled Americans. The program is jointly funded and administered by states/territories and the federal government, with the federal government covering a greater share of Medicaid costs in poorer states. Republicans are weighing two primary options to gut Medicaid: cutting federal funding for Medicaid expansion and imposing work requirements. Forty states and DC expanded Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act to cover over 20 million additional low-income adults. The federal government covers 90% of Medicaid expansion costs, but Republicans are considering reducing this rate, which would make Medicaid expansion financially unsustainable in most states. Twelve states also have provisions to automatically end expansion if federal funding rates drop below 90%. Republicans are also considering imposing burdensome Medicaid work requirements, even though 92% of non-disabled adult Medicaid enrollees are already employed. One estimate concluded that reducing federal contributions to Medicaid expansion would cause over 34,000 additional deaths annually. Medicaid work requirements are costly to implement and would result in further massive coverage losses. Medicaid is a universally well-regarded and highly cost-effective insurance program that connects people to life-saving health care. Cutting it will directly harm millions of Americans. I demand my representatives oppose a budget reconciliation bill that includes these damaging cuts to Medicaid. This bill- this very dangerous and stupid bill- endangers the health care access of millions of Americans. Republicans are aiming to push this bill through the House and Senate by Memorial Day - in the dead of the night like cowards. At least do it in the light of day- at least be honest and upfront when you screw over millions in healthcare, close thousands of hospitals in rural areas and make it so people who live in rural communities have to drive father to get healthcare, make it harder for people who are born or have a disadvantage in life to receive that lifesaving care. Adding 2 to 5 trillion more to the deficit by imposing these cuts- by hurting the mass of people who voted FOR you and protect the upper billionaire class who already get handouts and don’t pay their worth in taxes - is like shooting yourself in the foot. Its counter productive. Its only 530 days until midterms. I don’t think people will so easily forget if you take away life giving facilities and close hospitals. History has its eyes on you- what legacy will you leave behind when this fanaticism and fascination with a president is done? What side of history will the people remember you on?