Is Tom Barrett talking out of both sides of his mouth when it comes to his vote for the House GOP budget blueprint?
You be the judge.
The budget resolution Barrett voted for on Feb. 25 sets up $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), the health insurance plan that covers nearly one in four Americans. Those programs cover nearly half of all births in the U.S. and two-thirds of all nursing home stays. (Click here for that story.)
In Barrett’s 7th Congressional District, which includes all of Livingston County, 131,266 people rely on Medicaid. The implications of the resolution Barrett voted for are that the district would lose $1.64 billion in health care funding and 45,000 people would lose their care, according to the Center for American Progress.
In a letter to a constituent last week regarding the recent Trump funding freeze, Barrett wrote that “this does not include Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. These are programs that I will always fight to save and strengthen.” (emphasis added)
The letter was dated Feb. 25 – the same day that Barrett voted for a resolution setting up Medicaid for $880 billion in cuts.
How did Barrett feel about voting for the resolution that will snatch health care from 45,000 of his constituents (many of whom are children)?
He told Just the News No Noise the day after the vote that he was “proud and thankful” that the House passed the budget resolution and that it was an important way of “moving the country forward in the right direction.”
Barrett can’t have it both ways. He is either going to “fight to save and strengthen” Medicaid or he is proud to be cutting it so that he can give tax cuts to millionaires.
Actions speak louder than words. Some 45,000 of his constituents will be watching closely to see if he “fights to save and strengthen” Medicaid or again proudly votes to cut it by $880 billion.
