Learn More About the “Sick of It!” Campaign Here.
This week, U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Representative Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03), Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), local lawmakers, storytellers, and advocates joined Protect Our Care in Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Colorado, Arizona, and Virginia to continue the “Sick of It! Fix Health Care Now” campaign. “Sick of It” is our largest grassroots campaign to date, giving voice to the millions of Americans rightfully sick of Trump and Republicans in Congress wrecking our health care system to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. Speakers demanded action from lawmakers and called for commonsense solutions to lower costs, lower barriers to care, and fix our broken health care system.
With Congress home for the August recess, Protect Our Care is holding Republicans’ feet to the fire with “GOP Hot Seat Summer,” focused on their devastating choice to cut over $1 trillion from health care to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. This week, Protect Our Care released new state-by-state fact sheets outlining how the GOP’s health care cuts are driving coverage losses, premium hikes, and hospital closures in each state. “GOP Hot Seat Summer” is bringing the fight right to Republican lawmakers’ doorsteps by holding empty-chair town halls, organizing petition drop-offs, hosting accountability events, and highlighting stories from Americans harmed by Republicans’ catastrophic health care cuts.
Michigan
Monday, August 17 – State Report Release Event with Congresswoman Hillary Scholten and Health Care Advocates: Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Kent County Commissioner Melissa LaGrand, Catherine’s Health Center CEO Megan Erskine and senior Eric Schneidewind joined Protect Our Care Michigan to discuss a new report showing more than 221,000 Michiganders have lost their healthcare or face unaffordable cost increases in the wake of President Trump’s attacks on healthcare, which include $1.1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and policies that raise healthcare costs. “Every American deserves access to quality, affordable health care, but Republicans have spent this administration stripping away coverage, making prescription prices rise, and forcing rural hospitals to close,” said Congresswoman Scholten. “I am constantly hearing stories from West Michiganders who don’t know how they’ll afford health care now that premiums have gone up by 200%. Some are choosing to go uninsured because they simply can’t afford it. In the richest nation in the world, no one should have to make that choice. That’s why I’m fighting in Congress to bring real relief to families here at home.”
- WZZM: Rep. Scholten, Advocates Discuss GOP Cuts to Healthcare in Michigan
- Michigan Public: Michigan Advocates Speak Out Against “Devastating” Federal Healthcare Funding Cuts
- MIRS:Press Release: New Report: 221,000 Michiganders Have Now Lost Healthcare, Face Higher Costs Because of Trump Attacks
- WDET Detroit: Healthcare Advocates Discuss How Cuts to Medicaid and ACA Tax Credits Harm Michiganders
- Michigan Radio: Rep. Hillary Scholten, West Michigan Advocates Discuss GOP Attacks to Healthcare
- CMU Public Radio Grand Rapids: POC MI, Rep. Scholten Discuss GOP Health Care Cuts with New Report
- WEMU-FM Detroit: Rep. Scholten, Advocates Discuss Health Care Cuts in Michigan
- The Michigan Independent: Michigan’s Rural Hospitals Closing, Reducing Service After Medicaid Cuts
Wisconsin
Tuesday, August 18 – Sick of It and State Report Event with Congressman Mark Pocan and Health Care Advocates: U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) and healthcare advocates joined Protect Our Care Wisconsin to discuss a new report laying bare the damage being done across Wisconsin after Congressman Tom Tiffany and Donald Trump slashed more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations. “Tom Tiffany voted for cutting $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to put money directly into the pockets of billionaires and political insiders,” said Main Street Action member and entrepreneur Corrine Hendrickson. “This has led to 65,389 of our neighbors no longer having health care. With more uninsured every single day. Meanwhile, we are left doing fundraisers and meat raffles to make sure our neighbors survive.”
- CBS58: Small Businesses Raise Healthcare Concerns; Tiffany Defends Medicaid Work Requirements
- Wisconsin Examiner: Advocates Say Tiffany’s Vote for 2025 Medicaid Cuts Bodes Ill for Healthcare
Ohio
Thursday, August 20 – State Report Release Event with Ohio Representatives Dr. Anita Somani and Michele Grim: State Representatives Dr. Anita Somani and Michele Grim, along with health care professionals, joined Protect Our Care Ohio to discuss a report laying bare the damage being done across Ohio after Republicans Senator Husted and Donald Trump slash more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations. “We’re seeing a lot of devastation around our state and the county because of the Big Ugly Bill and the cuts to Medicaid and the ACA,” said State Representative Michele Grim. “Because Senator Husted and Senator Moreno voted for these, we’re now seeing that over 350,000 Ohioans are losing their coverage, and premiums are doubling for over 500,000 Ohioans.”
- Toledo Blade: Ohio Health Marketplace Insurers Seek Premium Hike
Colorado
Thursday, August 20 – State Report Event with Former White House Official Jessica Killin, State Senators Marc Snyder, Tony Exum, and State Representative Amy Paschal: Former White House official and impacted Coloradan Jessica Killin, State Senators Marc Snyder and Tony Exum, State Representative Amy Paschal, and patient advocates joined Protect Our Care Colorado to discuss a new report laying bare the damage being done across Colorado after Congressional Republicans and Donald Trump slashed more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations. “Millions of Americans relied on enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits to make their coverage affordable – including nearly 300,000 Coloradans. But after Republicans in Congress allowed those credits to expire, premiums more than doubled on average for many people,” said Senator Marc Snyder. “The bottom line is this: having health insurance doesn’t mean much if you can’t afford to use it. Coloradans deserve better. They deserve coverage they can afford, care they can access, and a healthcare system that works for them.”
- FOX 21: Colorado Democrats Said Obbb Caused Higher Healthcare Costs
Arizona
Friday August 21 – “Sick of It!” and State Report Release Event with Senator Ruben Gallego and Health Care Advocates: Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) joined Protect Our Care Arizona to discuss a new report laying bare the damage being done across Arizona after Republicans like Juan Ciscomani and Donald Trump slash more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations. The report comes as Trump’s executive order calls for scaling back pediatric vaccines like measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), risking worse public health outcomes and delaying essential immunization for children. Panelists called on lawmakers to end the GOP health care crisis by restoring the ACA tax credits, reversing Medicaid cuts, and lowering health care costs for Arizona families. “This was a choice. Republicans made a deliberate choice to cut Medicaid and let Affordable Care Act tax credits expire. They could have protected millions of Americans, but instead they chose to prioritize tax breaks for the wealthiest and please Donald Trump,” said Senator Ruben Gallego. “And we haven’t even seen the worst of it yet. Rural clinics are going to feel the pain. Hospitals are going to feel the pain. Families across Arizona are going to feel the pain.Kicking people off their health insurance is one of the worst choices you can make—and Republicans are going to have to answer for it when millions of Americans, including hundreds of thousands of Arizonans, are left struggling to afford or access the care they need.”