NY DEMS: Congressman Mike Lawler broke pledge to protect Medicaid

Lawler, Langworthy, Tenney Voted For Republican Budget to Gut Medicaid and Rip Away Health Care

From the NY State Democratic Committee,

NEW YORK – Mike Lawler voted last night in favor of House Republicans’ reckless budget proposal that includes hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, which over 7 million New Yorkers rely on – including over a quarter of the residents in his own district. Lawler is now trying to clean up his own mess after he broke his promise to protect Medicaid and signed off on an agenda that will leave his constituents out to dry. New Yorkers aren’t going to fall for his hollow words. Here are the facts: Last weekend: Lawler was called out for repeatedly dancing around a simple question about protecting Medicaid. He promised to “not cut Medicaid benefits… period,” a promise that lasted just three days. Last night: Lawler went against his word last night when he voted for House Republicans’ budget proposal that puts Medicaid on the chopping block – threatening the health care of millions of New Yorkers, including 26 percent of the residents in Lawler’s district. Now: Lawler is once again trying to gaslight New Yorkers about his vote last night that threatens coverage for millions of families just to pay for tax breaks for his billionaire donors. Lawler desperately tried to cover for his actions by immediately lying about the budget resolution, claiming that he is still “focused on” protecting Medicaid – just minutes after he voted to gut the program.  But the math isn’t mathing: New York Times: “Mathematically, the budget committee’s instructions mean the committee would need to make major cuts to either Medicare, Medicaid or both. Congressional leadership has been signaling that Medicaid has been the main focus. … If the budget resolution is going to become public policy, it will require legislation that cuts health programs.” Washington Post: “The House-passed budget proposal pretty clearly requires cutting Medicaid, and that’s a big political problem. … Republicans will need to get more specific if they want to pay for extending Trump’s tax cuts. And both the math and their comments make clear that will involve significant Medicaid cuts.” Sahil Kupar, NBC News: “[The Republican budget] tells Energy & Commerce Cmte, which oversees Medicaid, to find cuts of $880 billion. Republicans openly say spending less on Medicaid will be part of that.”

New York House Republicans Vote to Rip Away Health Care, Food Assistance from Millions of New Yorkers   In response to House Republicans moving forward with their reckless budget reconciliation bill, Chairman Jay Jacobs released the following statement: “Today, New York House Republicans voted against New York’s working families – ripping away health care and food assistance for millions of their constituents. Andrew Garbarino, Nick LaLota, Nick Langworthy, Mike Lawler, Nicole Malliotakis, and Claudia Tenney voted for Republicans’ disastrous agenda that will harm the livelihoods of millions of New Yorkers they were elected to protect. These shameful representatives chose tax breaks for their billionaire donors over the lives of their constituents and New York families will suffer as a result. Make no mistake, New York House Republicans will wear this vote in 2026 and voters will hold them accountable.”