Destructive federal budget bill harms real Michiganders

A version of this column originally appeared in Michigan Advance.

In late June, hundreds of people gathered in the shadow of the Capitol in Lansing for a Protect MI Care vigil to show the importance of Medicaid and the lives of the 2.6 million Michiganders who rely on it. We gathered to acknowledge the human toll of political decisions. Namely, the federal budget bill that had been looming. 

And we were there that night for the 2.6 million, but we were there to recognize the people behind that number. People like Paul, 66 years old, who has worked his entire life and now depends on Medicaid for mental health treatment. Without it, he fears losing access to the care and medication that keep him stable.

People like Catherine, who lives with cerebral palsy and relies on Medicaid to afford the direct care workers who help her with daily tasks like showering and transportation. Without this support, her independence would vanish.

Nathan spoke powerfully about how Medicaid helped him get sober, rebuild his life, and become a mentor to others fighting addiction. And Katie shared the story of her son, born 11 weeks premature and dependent on round-the-clock care. Thanks to Medicaid, he’s now a thriving 6-year-old who has overcome incredible odds.

These stories — and so many others — remind us that Medicaid isn’t just a policy. It’s a lifeline. It covers nearly half of all births in Michigan. It’s the largest payer of behavioral health services, long-term supports and nursing home care. In rural counties across our state, more than 1 in 5 residents rely on it. And beyond its human impact, Medicaid brings nearly $5 billion into Michigan’s economy each year. Cutting it would not only devastate families, it would destabilize entire communities and systems.

And it’s not just Medicaid many of us have been fighting for. Dozens of programs have been under attack by the federal administration. Programs that keep Michiganders safe and healthy. Programs that make sure food is on the table. Programs that help kids and families and communities.

But just days after our vigil, Republican leaders in Washington passed one of the most dangerous and destructive bills in modern history. They voted to spend trillions of dollars in a way that will increase poverty and hunger, strip health care from millions, and push the largest transfer of wealth from working families to the wealthy elite this country has ever seen.

The bill will slash Medicaid and food assistance, which will not only drive families deeper into poverty, but will have devastating impacts on our food and health care systems. And to be quite frank, it will lead to more widespread death, disease and disability. Millions of Americans are at risk, and every state and territory will face extreme cuts. Michigan alone will have to come up with $8.5 billion in Medicaid expansion funds and up to $304 million in SNAP funds that the bill strips away from our state budget. 

700,000 Michiganders are at risk of losing health coverage. More than 120,000 could lose access to food. These are not just numbers. They are our neighbors, our co-workers, our grandparents and our kids.

But it gets worse. The bill also funnels billions toward a sweeping “mass deportation plan” that hands unchecked authority to the Trump administration. It lacks transparency, offers no clear oversight and sets the stage for dangerous abuses of power. All of this — plus $2.4 trillion added to the national deficit — was jammed through with little debate, often after meetings in the dead of night, because lawmakers knew how deeply unpopular it was.

Most Americans oppose this bill — and for good reason. Nearly 70% of the tax cuts will go to the wealthiest 20% of Americans. Meanwhile, families with the lowest incomes will see just a 1% reduction, and most will end up paying more out of pocket because they’re losing access to critical services. 

This is a generational setback. But it is also a call to action. We will not forget these stories. We will not stop fighting. And we will not let this become our future.

Note: You can take action now — we’re making it easy for you to let your member of Congress know what you think. Click here to automatically customize a THANK YOU email if your lawmaker voted AGAINST this disastrous bill, and an email expressing extreme DISAPPOINTMENT if your lawmaker voted in FAVOR of taking food and health care away from millions of people across the country who need it in order to give tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans.