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Senators Warner and Kaine; Abigail Spanberger; Virginia Dems Blast Senate Passage of “partisan megabill that slashes Medicaid, nutrition assistance, and other critical programs…in order to pay for massive tax breaks to the very rich”

Remember: "All five Republican members of Virginia’s congressional delegation previously voted to advance the bill to the Senate"

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See below for statements from Virginia Democrats on US Senate passage of “a partisan megabill that slashes Medicaid, nutrition assistance, and other critical programs that Americans rely on in order to pay for massive tax breaks to the very rich.”

WARNER & KAINE STATEMENT ON SENATE PASSAGE OF REPUBLICAN BUDGET MEGABILL

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after they voted no on the Republican budget megabill:

“Today, Republicans jammed through a partisan megabill that slashes Medicaid, nutrition assistance, and other critical programs that Americans rely on in order to pay for massive tax breaks to the very rich. It’s clear that the Trump Administration and congressional Republicans are only interested in helping the wealthiest—even if it means ripping off working- and middle-class people, killing jobs, and hurting our economy. Americans deserve better than this. We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure all Virginians have the support they need in the wake of this disastrous legislation.”

Warner and Kaine introduced a series of amendments in an attempt to improve the bill. Republicans blocked them.

The senators have been sounding the alarm about the effects of the GOP plan on Virginia families, noting that the GOP bill would strip health insurance from about 323,000 Virginians, saddle families with medical debt, cut SNAP benefits for more than 204,000 Virginians, and devastate rural communities. The bill would also explode the deficit, jeopardize more than 20,000 Virginia jobs, raise energy costs, give the richest 0.1% a $255,125 tax cut, and eliminate a program allowing Americans to file federal taxes for free.

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From the Democratic Party of Virginia:

U.S. Senate Advances Republican Budget Bill That Puts 300,000 Virginians At Risk of Losing Health Care Coverage

Today, the U.S. Senate advanced Trump’s disastrous budget bill, which makes the largest cuts to Medicaid in history to fund tax cuts for billionaires.

Republicans’ budget bill is estimated to strip health care coverage away from more than 300,000 Virginians, shut down rural hospitals and nursing homes, spike energy costs by 8%, rip away food assistance from hunger families and children, and trigger hundreds of job losses across the Commonwealth.

The bill now heads back to the House. All five Republican members of Virginia’s congressional delegation previously voted to advance the bill to the Senate – including vulnerable Republicans Jen Kiggans and Rob Wittman.

Kiggans and Wittman are both facing heavy scrutiny for already breaking their promises to Virginia voters.

  • The Virginian-Pilot torched Kiggans and Wittman after they voted to pass the Republican budget out of the House, writing that they “sold out their constituents” when they broke their promise not to support any bill that cuts Medicaid.
  • Kiggans is also facing scrutiny after she “flip-flopped” by spending weeks pledging that she would support clean energy tax credits, only to turn around and cast the deciding vote to gut them.

DPVA Chairman Lamont Bagby shared the following statement:

“More than 300,000 Virginians could lose access to their health care coverage if Republicans’ disastrous budget bill becomes law. This isn’t just numbers on a page, it’s real lives on the line. Our hospitals, our nursing homes, and our communities can’t afford these cuts. By supporting this bill, Virginia’s Congressional Republicans are turning their backs on working families. Jen Kiggans and Rob Wittman already broke their promise to Virginians by voting to advance this disastrous budget that makes the largest cuts to Medicaid in history. Now they have one final chance to do the right thing and buck their party bosses. Will they stand with the people of Virginia, or will they once again bend the knee to Trump and his billionaire buddies pushing this harmful and dangerous agenda? The stakes couldn’t be higher.”

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Spanberger Statement on U.S. Senate Passage of GOP Tax Bill That Threatens Health Insurance for More than 300,000 Virginians

Spanberger: “The Legislation Passed in the U.S. Senate Today would Rip away Healthcare Coverage from Hundreds of Thousands of Our Neighbors”

RICHMOND, Va. — Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement following passage of Congressional Republicans’ tax bill — legislation that threatens to take away healthcare coverage from more than 300,000 Virginians.

“In every corner of our Commonwealth, I hear from Virginians who are concerned about rising healthcare costs. At this moment, they deserve elected officials who will defend access to affordable coverage and work every day to lower healthcare and prescription drug costs. Instead, Virginians are watching as Republicans in Washington inject chaos into our healthcare system.

“The legislation passed in the U.S. Senate today would rip away healthcare coverage from hundreds of thousands of our neighbors, including Virginians with disabilities. Additionally, this bill would threaten the survival of our rural hospitals, overwhelm our emergency rooms as more Virginians forego preventative care and check-ups, and drive up costs for Virginia families. This misguided bill is a direct threat to the stability of our Commonwealth’s healthcare system and the financial security of Virginia parents, families, and seniors.

“Virginians deserve a Governor who will speak out against these attacks on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act — not hide in silence. As our next Governor, I will never be afraid to stand up for the health, safety, and prosperity of the people of Virginia.”

BACKGROUND

The GOP’s tax bill would hurt access to affordable healthcare coverage across the Commonwealth:

  • More than 302,000 Virginians would lose their healthcare coverage.
  • More than 388,000 Virginians on the Marketplace would see their premiums increase significantly – if they don’t lose coverage entirely. A 60-year old couple who lives in Roanoke and makes approximately $81,000 a year would see their premiums rise by over $1,000 per month.
  • At least six rural hospitals, including four in Southwest and Southside Virginia, one in Hampton Roads, and one in the Northern Neck — would be at risk of closure.

 

Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA03): “Their disastrous bill funds tax breaks for billionaires by slashing food assurance, education, and health care for 16 million people.”

Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA04): “The Senate just made the Big Ugly Bill worse. On top of imposing burdensome administrative costs on Medicaid and shifting some SNAP benefits costs to the states, the bill now cuts $1 trillion from Medicaid and makes it harder for states to pay their share of the program. States will be forced to choose between significantly raising taxes or cutting services. Millions will lose their health insurance and food benefits. All to give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans.”

Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA07): “I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I voted to rip health care away from 17 million Americans. Apparently, some of my colleagues can. I voted NO on Trump’s budget the first time it came to the House — and I’ll do it again.”

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA08): “Senate Republicans just passed their version of Trump’s Big Ugly Bill. Here’s what it does: Massive tax cuts for billionaires. Tax increases for poor and working Americans. 17 million people lose health care. The biggest cut to Medicaid ever. Biggest cut to nutrition assistance (SNAP) ever. Higher energy costs. Trillions added to the national debt. It comes to the House now. We will fight this.”

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA10): “Reading the updated Big Ugly Bill and somehow it got worse… Old version: slashed Medicaid, cut clean energy, exploded the debt. New version: slashes more Medicaid, cuts more clean energy, raises the debt even more.”

VA11 Democratic nominee James Walkinshaw: “Trump’s ‘Big BS Bill’ passed the Senate—and it’s terrible for Fairfax families. The bill: Slashes Medicaid—the biggest cut in history; Guts SNAP assistance for working families; Hikes costs, kills jobs, & explodes the national debt. I urge the House to kill this BS bill.”

Hashmi Statement on Devastating Reconciliation Bill

Richmond — Today, Virginia Senator Ghazala Hashmi (D-SD-15), Democratic nominee for Virginia Lieutenant Governor, released the following statement regarding the passage of the Congressional reconciliation bill:

“The passage of Trump’s disastrous tax bill is a stunning betrayal of Virginia families. It includes the largest cut to Medicaid in American history—ripping health insurance away from more than 300,000 Virginians, threatening rural hospital closures, and devastating our most vulnerable neighbors. The bill slashes funding for trusted providers like Planned Parenthood, putting reproductive and preventive health care even further out of reach for those who need support and resources the most. At a time when families are already stretched thin, the harmful budget bill guts food assistance programs and fails to address the rising costs of essential healthcare needs and prescription drugs.

As Virginia’s next Lieutenant Governor, I will keep fighting to protect Medicaid, defend reproductive freedom, lower costs, and ensure no Virginian is left behind. Together, we will build the Commonwealth we know is possible: one that reflects our shared values, and puts Virginians, not Trump’s special interests, first.”

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Freedom Virginia Condemns Passage of Republican Budget That Will Gut the Middle Class for Billionaires’ Benefit, Calls on House to Reject Measure

RICHMOND, Va. — The U.S. Senate today passed the extremist Republican budget on a 51-50 vote. As public opposition to the bill continues to rise, with half of all Americans opposing it, Freedom Virginia co-Executive Director Ryan O’Toole released the following statement:

“Let’s cut right to the chase: Republicans in Congress are advancing a bill that slashes life-saving funding that benefits the middle class and will raise the cost of everything from energy and groceries to health insurance and housing, all to pay for trillions of dollars in new tax breaks for the billionaire 1%.

“Voters right now see a corrupt system that works only for special interests, not for them. This administration and its Congressional GOP lackeys continue to prove them right. Today’s vote has shown once again that Congressional Republicans will prioritize their wealthy donors’ interests over what regular people need: access to affordable groceries, new homes built, affordable energy, high-quality nursing homes to care for their loved ones, affordable health insurance through Medicaid, good-paying jobs in growing industries like clean energy, dependable healthcare in rural communities, and services for veterans. We could go on and on, but the point is clear: this is a Republican bill to gut the middle class and raise the cost of living for everyday people, all to make life even easier for the ultra-wealthy.

“We hope Virginia’s House delegation will swiftly reject the measure.”
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