RELEASE: Advocates Call on Rep. Darin LaHood to Oppose Cuts  Affecting Over 160,000 Illinoisans in IL-16 Under Congressional Republican Budget Proposals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Josh Schrader

josh@citizenaction-il.org

Advocates and Allies Gathered in Illinois District 16, Represented by Darin LaHood, to Urge NO Cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and Other Essential Services

Normal, IL — Today, Citizen Action/Illinois, the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, the IL AFL-CIO, Voice for Reason, and Protect Our Care Illinois hosted a press conference in Normal, Illinois, to advocate for working families, oppose the devastating cuts to essential services proposed in the federal budget, and shed light on the harm these cuts would cause in IL-16.

Anusha Thotakura, Director of Citizen Action/Illinois stated prior to the event, “The direct impacts of the proposed budget on Illinoisans in IL-16 is devastating, and it would instead prioritize billionaires at the expense of the health and well-being of seniors, children, and working Illinois families.”

Krystel Able, the Executive Director of the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, and who helped organize the event in Normal spoke for the many seniors the budget cuts would affect, “I’m here today because our seniors have worked their entire lives, paid into programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and deserve the security they were promised. But right now, some lawmakers are threatening devastating cuts to these essential programs, putting millions of seniors, people with disabilities, and working families at risk. We are here to send a clear message to Congressman LaHood and all of our elected officials: Do not cut Medicare. Do not cut Medicaid. Do not cut Social Security. Do not cut our healthcare.”

Omar Martínez González, Sr. Manager of Policy & Advocacy with the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, said “Medicaid is the single largest source of healthcare coverage for people living with HIV, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. Illinois has worked hard to expand access to healthcare, reduce new HIV infections, and support people with chronic conditions. These proposed cuts would undo decades of progress.”

Over 150 people attended today’s press conference at Uptown Circle in Normal, IL. Many who attended showcased their rejection to the proposed budget cuts by holding up signs, many of which stated “Healthcare is a human right.”

“We should be strengthening Social Security and Medicare—not cutting them to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy,” said Jodie Slothower, with Voices of Reason, who also attended and spoke.

A Representative of Congressman Eric Sorensen and a Representative of Illinois State Senator David Koehler also delivered remarks on their behalf during the press conference. Other speakers included:

  • Ryan Osborn, Patient Advocate

  • Rachel Shively, Illinois Single Payer Coalition

  • Vickie Alexander, SEIU HCII

  • Linda Foster, President NAACP Bloomington-Normal

  • Bill Looby, IL AFL-CIO

  • Mike Raikes, President Livingston & McLean County Building Trades

  • Luis Rivas, US Postal Workers

  • Sonny Garcia, Latinos United for Change and Immigrant Rights

  • Kelly Hubbard, EverThrive Illinois

In a press advisory released before the event, and highlighted at the press conference, over 160,000 people in Rep. Darin LaHood’s District are at risk of losing their access to critical healthcare services under Republican budget plans. Including:

  • 21,000 people who receive coverage under the Affordable Care Act

  • 139,474 individuals enrolled in Medicaid

  • 29,012 people who count on SNAP

Citizen Action/Illinois will continue to travel across Illinois Congressional Districts, specifically Republican-represented districts, to make their voices heard about the critical lifeline that services like Medicaid, SNAP, education, and Social Security play in the lives of Illinoisans.

Citizen Action/Illinois is the state’s largest public progressive interest organization, dedicated to advocating for healthcare access, economic justice, and consumer rights. Through grassroots organizing and coalition-building, we work to ensure policies that protect Illinois families, seniors, and communities.

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For Media Inquiries:

Contact

Josh Schrader

Citizen Action/Illinois

(402) 860-0689

josh@citizenaction-il.org