The ‘Gander: “John James backs plan to strip healthcare from his constituents”

The 'Gander: "John James backs plan to strip healthcare from his constituents"

A new report from The 'Gander exposes Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate John James for "advancing plans to take healthcare coverage away from hundreds of thousands of Michiganders-including thousands living in his own district."

"Two-time statewide loser John James sold out Michiganders by voting for a disastrous budget bill that would rip Medicaid away from thousands to give tax breaks to the ultra-rich," said DGA Communications Director Sam Newton."James has spent his time in Congress running from his constituents at town halls, pushing cuts to critical social safety nets, supporting an extreme abortion ban, and siding with Betsy DeVos's dangerous anti-public education agenda. James won't be able to hide as his disastrous record comes to light and proves how unfit he is to lead Michigan."

Read more from The 'Gander about John James gutting health care for thousands of Michiganders:

• Republicans in Congress have taken some of the first formal steps toward slashing funding for Medicaid-and US Rep. John James is helping lead the charge.

• … James voted to advance a Republican proposal that would cut hundreds of billions of dollars from the Medicaid program over the next decade.

• The legislation […] would add new red tape for Medicaid recipients and likely lead to coverage being stripped away from millions of Americans-including thousands living in James' own district in Macomb and Oakland counties.

• … About 2.6 million Michiganders are enrolled in Medicaid-including more than 300,000 people with disabilities and 168,000 seniors. Medicaid also covers about 45% of births statewide, with higher rates in rural communities.

• Under the plan, more than 750,000 Michiganders now risk losing care altogether, Whitmer said.

• … James has a long history of supporting steep funding cuts for programs like Medicaid and Social Security-which serve as key lifelines for many of the same voters that he's now asking to support his campaign for governor, including in his own district.

• Data shows that more than 132,000 Michiganders living in Michigan's 10th Congressional District are enrolled in Medicaid.

• While James ramps up his political ambitions, he's also been increasingly absent from his current job. Despite repeated invitations, James has declined to attend local town hall meetings to speak directly with voters-including one that he was invited to last month in Warren.

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