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May 2025

ashoup
In News

ADVISORY: Protect Our Care to Fly Plane Over Kentucky Derby, Telling Brett Guthrie “Hands Off Medicaid”

 ***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR SATURDAY MAY 3***

As Chair of the House E&C Committee, Brett Guthrie Is Leading the Charge to Slash Medicaid and Rip Health Care Away From Millions

Washington, D.C. — On Saturday, Protect Our Care will fly a plane over the Kentucky Derby, the most-watched and most-attended horse race in the United States, telling Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Representative Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02) to reject any cuts to Medicaid. The plane will carry a banner reading “Tell Brett Guthrie: Hands Off Medicaid!”

Next week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce will be drawing up plans to kick millions of Americans off their coverage by slashing federal funding for Medicaid, limiting how states can fund Medicaid, and adding burdensome paperwork requirements to keep coverage. Medicaid cuts could spell doom for millions, ripping health care away from seniors, children with disabilities, pregnant women, and hardworking families across the country. The latest research shows that, under the Republican scheme, more than 20 million could lose coverage and 34,200 will die each year.

SKY BILLBOARD DISPLAY

WHAT: Plane fly-over with banner 

WHEN: Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 2 PM to 6 PM ET

WHERE: Churchill Downs Racetrack, 700 Central Ave, Louisville, KY

BACKGROUND

FACT SHEET: Rep. Brett Guthrie Spreads Falsehoods To Kentuckians While Slashing Medicaid

ashoup
In News

HEADLINES: Republicans Are Running Scared As Details of Their Medicaid Cuts Spark Outrage

Republicans in Congress who have been moving to gut Medicaid have hit a roadblock: outrage from the American people who are fed up with the GOP. According to analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, Republicans cannot achieve their savings targets without deeply cutting Medicaid, which would throw 23.3 million Americans off their health coverage and kill 34,200 people each year.

The American people know Medicaid is a lifeline for their family, friends, and neighbors and have taken to town halls, rallies, and protests about it. Poll after poll after poll – even Trump’s own pollster – have confirmed this is completely out of step with the American people with broad opposition across party lines to any cuts to Medicaid. Now as Republicans must determine exactly how they will slash Medicaid, the party is running scared. 

Politico: GOP Delays Budget Markup Amidst Backlash to Medicaid Cuts.

  • “House GOP leaders are pushing Energy and Commerce Committee’s megabill markup another week as Republicans try to resolve lingering issues over spending cuts to Medicaid… One of the key issues remaining is how far Republicans go to implement a controversial proposal to cap federal Medicaid payments to states, as leaders try to work through various estimates about savings, according to two other people with direct knowledge.”

The Hill: House Republicans are in Disarray Over Disagreements to Catastrophic Medicaid Cuts.

  • “[O]n Thursday, the panel informed members that it is now eyeing a markup the week of May 12, a committee source told The Hill… The delay comes after a week of House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) holding meetings with a cross-section of House Republicans, which failed to help reach consensus on potential cuts to Medicaid.”
  • “The delayed markup deals a blow to Johnson, who was pushing to wrap up all markups next week… The budget resolution, which lays out parameters for crafting the final Trump agenda bill, directs the House Energy and Commerce Committee to find at least $880 billion in cuts, a figure that scorekeepers say cannot be reached without changes to Medicaid, which centrists are adamantly opposed to.”

The Washington Examiner: House Republicans Delay Markup Vote After Meeting With the White House.

  • “Two major House hearings to look at President Donald Trump’s ‘one big, beautiful bill’ were delayed after Thursday’s White House meeting… Following the budget framework passing last month, committee leaders tasked with leading sections of the reconciliation package met with lawmakers throughout this week, as several Republicans have expressed concerns over how the GOP can find $1.5 trillion in spending cuts without slashing Medicaid benefits, leaving the House Energy and Commerce markup expected to draw a heated debate.”

Punchbowl News: Infighting About Medicaid Cuts Leads to GOP Delaying Markup Vote.

  • “The House Republican leadership has delayed three critical markups on President Donald Trump’s reconciliation package as internal party squabbles have hobbled the GOP’s ability to move quickly… Despite working on the policy behind the scenes for nearly a year to find party consensus, the massive GOP package remains in flux. Huge disagreements over key policy issues remain.”

Politico: Republicans Tap the Breaks With a Surprise E&C Delay.

  • “The decision comes after Speaker Mike Johnson, E&C Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and other members of the House GOP leadership team ran through Medicaid proposals and other major pieces of the GOP’s party-line domestic policy package with President Donald Trump during a White House meeting Thursday. One key issue remaining is how far Republicans will go to implement a controversial proposal to cap federal Medicaid payments to states as leaders try to work through various estimates about savings, according to two other people with direct knowledge of the matter.”
ashoup
In News

Following GOP Markup Meltdown, Protect Our Care Extends Ad Campaign In Key Districts Urging Republicans to Abandon Their Devastating Cuts to Medicaid to Fund Tax Cuts

Protect Our Care Is Extending Its Ad Campaign Highlighting the Devastating Impact Republicans’ Medicaid Cuts Would Have on Millions of Families

View the Bannon Ads Here
View the Josephine Ads Here

Washington, D.C. – As Republicans stall their wildly unpopular budget reconciliation, Protect Our Care is extending its television and digital ad campaign to highlight widespread opposition to the Republican plan to slash billions from Medicaid. The delay came as the committees were preparing to outline how the House GOP will slash Medicaid and take health care away from tens of millions of Americans to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. Facing pushback and public outcry over their scheme to gut Medicaid, Republicans have continually pushed falsehoods and misled their constituents.

The ads, which are part of Protect Our Care’s ongoing 10-million-dollar “Hands Off Medicaid” campaign, target 10 key Representatives who Mike Johnson and Donald Trump are squeezing to deliver tax breaks for the rich at the expense of everyday Americans. The first ad features Trump loyalist and MAGA cheerleader Steve Bannon, warning Republicans to be “careful” because there are “a lot of MAGAs on Medicaid.” In the second ad, Josephine, a conservative voter and grandmother to a little boy with special needs, speaks about how cuts to Medicaid would cause pain for her family and millions of others.

“This GOP markup meltdown is proof that Republicans are unraveling because they know the consequences of making the largest Medicaid cuts in history,” said Protect Our Care President Brad Woodhouse. “If they move forward, they are playing a dangerous game with the health and livelihoods of tens of millions of people, including children, people with disabilities, seniors, people fighting cancer, and working families. It’s not too late for these members – who know that Medicaid cuts will hurt their constituents and cost them at the ballot box – to put a stop to this and put the needs of regular folks above billionaires and the corporate elite.” 

Each of these ads are running in the following districts: David Schweikert (AZ-01), David Valadao (CA-22), Young Kim (CA-40), Ken Calvert (CA-41), Nick LaLota (NY-01), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), and Dan Newhouse (WA-04).

Links to each of the 30-second Steve Bannon ads can be found below:

David Schweikert (AZ-01)
David Valadao (CA-22)
Young Kim (CA-40)
Ken Calvert (CA-41)
Nick LaLota (NY-01)
Andrew Garbarino (NY-02)
Mike Lawler (NY-17)
Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07)
Rob Bresnahan (PA-08)
Dan Newhouse (WA-04)

Sample Ad Script for AZ-01:

Fox News Host: “In the bill the Republicans are putting forward, there will be an eight-hundred-eighty billion dollar cut to Medicaid.”

Narrator: Congress wants to cut Medicaid….

Woman at Town Hall: “I’m asking you today, please do not cut the federal Medicaid budget.”

Narrator: ….and people aren’t happy about it.

Man at Town Hall: “You don’t get to take our healthcare – get off me! You don’t get to do this to us!”

Steve Bannon:  “Medicaid you’ve got to be careful, cause a lot of MAGA’s on Medicaid. I’m telling you. If you don’t think so, you’re dead wrong.” 

Narrator: Call Congressman Schweikert and tell him to stop these cuts to Medicaid. 

Links to each of the 30-second Josephine ads can be found below:

David Schweikert (AZ-01)
David Valadao (CA-22)
Young Kim (CA-40)
Ken Calvert (CA-41)
Nick LaLota (NY-01)
Andrew Garbarino (NY-02)
Mike Lawler (NY-17)
Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07)
Rob Bresnahan (PA-08)
Dan Newhouse (WA-04)

Sample Ad Script for PA-08:

Josephine:

My grandson Elijah is the apple of everyone’s eye, everyone that meets Elijah loves him.

But Elijah does have special needs.

If Congress cuts Medicaid, this will affect millions of families, not just children like Elijah.

How many people will live in pain?

I voted Republican last fall, but I don’t understand why they’re doing this

Congressman Bresnahan, we’re counting on you to stop these cuts to Medicaid.

ashoup
In News

GOP In Disarray: Republicans Abandon Markups Following Widespread Opposition to Their Plans to Gut Medicaid

Washington, D.C. – Today, Republican House leadership delayed markup sessions for both the Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees that were set for next week. The delay came as the committees were preparing to outline how the House GOP will slash Medicaid and take health care away from tens of millions of Americans. Facing pushback and public outcry over their scheme to gut Medicaid, Republicans have continually pushed falsehoods and misled their constituents. This delay is proof that even lawmakers within the GOP are scared to face the political consequences of making the largest Medicaid cuts in history. Republicans are unraveling because they know that the last time they tried to tear apart America’s health care system to give billionaires tax breaks, it cost them at the ballot box.

In response, Protect Our Care President Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement: 

“Republicans are melting down. They’ve twisted themselves in knots to slash Medicaid to provide tax breaks to the rich, but the American people have said ‘hell no.’ They know their agenda to rip health care from millions of Americans is deeply unpopular and politically perilous. This delay is not the end of the line – Trump and Republicans are hell-bent on slashing taxes for the rich no matter who they hurt or how many lose health care. The so-called moderate Republicans should stand their ground until these cuts are taken off the table for good.” 

BACKGROUND:

THE TRUTH: Every Republican Medicaid Proposal Will Take Health Care Away from Millions To Fund Tax Breaks for the Wealthy

Running Scared: Republicans Scramble To Determine How To Take Away Americans’ Health Care to Fund Tax Breaks for the Wealthy

ashoup
In News

THE TRUTH: Every Republican Medicaid Proposal Will Take Health Care Away from Millions To Fund Tax Breaks for the Wealthy

Republicans are charging ahead with their plan to cut health care in order to hand out tax breaks to the wealthy and big corporations. They want you to believe that they can cut Medicaid by hundreds of billions of dollars without hurting people. That could not be further from the truth. Every proposal Republicans have brought to the table would rip health care away millions, including seniors in nursing homes, people with disabilities, children, and hardworking families. 

Not one dollar should be cut from Medicaid to pay for a dollar of tax breaks for the rich. The nonpartisan CBO has said that the only way Republicans can achieve their goal is by kicking people off Medicaid rolls and taking away services. Whether it’s nearly a trillion dollars, half a trillion dollars, or hundreds of billions of dollars, their plans to slash health care will hurt people. 

Any cut to Medicaid will mean Americans lose coverage and access to care: 

  • A $500 billion cut, as proposed by some Republicans, could throw more than 20 million off their coverage. $500 billion covers health care for ten years for 18.5 million children, 2.7 million seniors, and 2.1 million people w/ disabilities.
  • A $250 billion cut could throw more than 10 million people off their coverage. $250 billion covers health care for ten years for 9.3 million children, 1.4 million seniors, and 1 million people w/ disabilities.
  • A $100 billion cut could throw nearly 5 million people off their coverage. $100 billion covers health care for ten years for 3.7 million children, 541,000 seniors, and 415,000 people w/ disabilities.

Here’s a closer look at their radical proposals: 

  • Work reporting requirements would jeopardize coverage for 36 million people 
  • Cuts to Medicaid expansion would jeopardize coverage for 21 million people 
  • Adding per capita caps to Medicaid would kick 15 million people off coverage
  • Reducing funding for Medicaid expansion would trigger laws that would automatically kick nearly 4 million people off coverage 
  • Rescinding a new rule that simplified Medicaid paperwork would jeopardize coverage for 1 million people and increase premiums and drug costs for 860,000 people. 
  • Restricting provider taxes and state directed payments would decrease coverage and access for millions of people across nearly every state in the country. 

Any way you slice it, cuts of this magnitude will kick millions of Americans off their health care. Medicaid provides coverage and lifesaving care to 1 in 5 Americans, including:

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