Elfreth Stands Up for Medicaid, Votes No on Republican Budget

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) released the following statement on her vote against the Republican budget resolution.

"Cuts to critical government programs that our children, seniors, and most vulnerable Marylanders rely on should never be on the table. In Maryland's Third District alone, 133,467 people rely on Medicaid for their health care, including nearly 60,000 children and 9,000 seniors. An additional 66,000 people rely on SNAP to put food on the table for their families."

"House Republicans have put forward a budget resolution that unlocks tremendous cuts to these long-standing, bipartisan programs that Third District families rely on: $880 billion in cuts that would decimate Medicaid, $230 billion in cuts that threaten food assistance to seniors and families, and $50 billion in cuts that endanger government employee retirement benefits. Let's be clear: this isn't about fiscal responsibility. Because in the same legislation, House Republicans also add $4 trillion to our debt ceiling, add over $14 trillion to the debt over the next decade, and call for $7 trillion in tax cuts that will disproportionately benefit corporations and the wealthiest in this nation."

"Simply put, the Republican budget resolution is a tax giveaway to those who need it least by gutting government programs that Americans rely on most. Not only does this budget put our children and seniors at risk, but it's fiscally irresponsible. Amidst rising costs and a trade war with no strategy, Maryland families want stability and affordability from their government - not a gutting of indispensable programs."

Critical facts about Medicaid:

• 35% of children in America rely on Medicaid for health coverage
• 60% of long-term care in America is covered by Medicaid
• Seven million seniors rely on Medicaid for services not covered - or not adequately covered - by Medicare
• Medicaid is the single largest payer in the country for behavioral health services, covering about one-quarter of total spending

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