In response to today’s vote on House Republicans’ budget resolution, Nabil Ahmed, Oxfam America’s Director of Economic and Racial Justice, said:
“This vote is what it looks like to serve oligarchs over ordinary people. The House Republicans’ budget plan is an appalling and destructive proposal to gut overwhelmingly-popular programs that tens of millions of people rely on, like Medicaid, so that the astronomically rich can hoard even more wealth. At the end of the day, trillions in tax handouts for the ultra-wealthy won’t pay for themselves, and the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans are willing to let ordinary families suffer so billionaires can get even richer.
“President Trump promised time and again to ‘love and cherish’ Medicaid, but this bill shows that he will dump any program in a flash for his true love: massive tax breaks for fellow billionaires. He’s given House Republicans the green light to decimate Medicaid funding to the tune of at least $880 billion. And that’s not to mention the bill’s countless other reprehensible elements, like authorizing a minimum of $230 billion in cuts to SNAP, a program that literally puts food on people’s tables.”
Oxfam is a global organization that fights inequality to end poverty and injustice. We offer lifesaving support in times of crisis and advocate for economic justice, gender equality, and climate action. We demand equal rights and equal treatment so that everyone can thrive, not just survive. The future is equal. Join us at oxfamamerica.org
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Notes to editors:
Oxfam America supports an inequality-reducing tax code and calls on Congress to reject tax giveaways for the wealthiest and large corporations.
Since taking office, President Trump has repeatedly pledged to protect Medicaid from funding cuts, promising to “love and cherish” the program and ensuring that it is not “going to be touched.” Trump has publicly backed the House Republicans’ budget resolution.
The House Republicans' budget resolution directs the House Committee on Energy and Commerce – which has jurisdiction over Medicaid – to reduce the deficit by $880 billion over 10 years, and it directs the House Committee on Agriculture – which has jurisdiction over SNAP – to reduce the deficit by $230 billion.