Latest news with #GOP-affiliated
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
"There's a lot of misinformation out there": Right-wing ads claim that Republicans love Medicaid
As Republicans hone the details of their plan to strip $880 billion in federal funding from Medicaid and similar programs, the GOP and its allies are launching a concerted effort aimed at obscuring those efforts. In the past few days, GOP-affiliated organizations have launched two new ad campaigns with the goal of convincing voters that Republicans aren't doing the very thing that they're currently doing: trying to cut Medicaid. On Tuesday, the American Action Network, a conservative issue advocacy group that helps promote Republicans, launched a $7 million ad campaign across 30 congressional districts claiming that reporting on the GOP efforts to defund Medicaid was 'misinformation.' 'There's a lot of misinformation out there trying to scare seniors. Trust me, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans is fighting to protect us. She's supporting President Trump's common-sense reforms to root out waste, fraud and abuse, fixing the Biden pill penalty while preserving our benefits,' one TV ad in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District said. Another ad by the group attempts to shift the focus from Medicaid to Medicare, a program that is not currently on the chopping block. Medicaid is a joint state and federal health insurance program for low-income households, whereas Medicare is mostly reserved for those age 65 and older. The ad attacks Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, for voting against a GOP continuing resolution that funded the government through September, which most Democrats opposed because it did nothing to check the Trump administration's impoundment of congressionally-authorized spending. The ad, however, frames this as voting against Medicare. 'I can't survive without Medicare yet when the time came to protect and fund Medicare, Congresswoman Kaptur voted no. A bipartisan vote and Marcy Kaptur chose to play politics instead of standing up for us,' the narrator states. The American Action Network's ads are running across 30 congressional districts, including competitive ones like those represented by Reps. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Jared Golden, D-Maine, as well as districts represented by GOP leadership, including Rep. James Comer, R-Ky. Another conservative group, Plymouth Union Public Advocacy, came in with a $650,000 ad campaign on Wednesday. One ad, set to run across eight states with Republican senators, claims that 'President Trump is stepping into the ring, fighting to preserve Medicaid for those who need it most.' The rest of the ad advocates for premium tax credits, a provision of the Affordable Care Act, that enables the federal government to partially subsidize the cost of private health insurance. Plymouth Union Public Advocacy is a Trump-promoting nonprofit run by the former political director of the Republican Governors Association and other GOP operatives. Because of its non-profit status, it is not required to make the same financial disclosures and other political organizations. The ad campaign is set to run in South Dakota, West Virginia, Louisiana, Maine, Idaho, Utah, Alaska and North Carolina, all states with Republican senators. 'Preserve Medicaid and make premium tax credits work for more families,' the narrator states. In conjunction with the ad blitz, Republicans have taken to town halls claiming that they won't cut Medicaid benefits. Some, like Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., have even said on the floor of the House that the GOP budget will 'increase Medicaid expenditures by at least 25% over the next 10 years.' Dean Baker, an economist and co-founder at the Center for Economic Policy Research, told Salon that such promises don't add up. "The House passed a budget reconciliation bill that called on the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion over the next decade from the programs it oversees. If they exclude Medicaid, the other programs' baseline spending would not be $880 billion over the decade," Baker said. "That means that if they would hit this target, they would need to cut Medicaid even if they zeroed out everything else in the programs they oversee." The deluge of messaging comes as the GOP is zeroing in on how specifically they are planning to cut Medicaid and other programs. The American Prospect reported this week that Republicans are circulating a menu of options, including work requirements and a plan to increase out-of-pocket expenses for recipients working at or above the federal poverty line. Meanwhile, Politico reported that self-described moderate Republicans are warming up to the idea of implementing work requirements and making eligibility checks more frequent, though these provisions wouldn't come close to fulfilling the $880 billion in cuts that Republicans asked the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the committee that oversees Medicaid, to find.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump backer Bill Ackman supports Cuomo's mayoral bid with $250K donation
NEW YORK — Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, a prominent supporter of Republican President Donald Trump, has donated $250,000 to a super PAC boosting Andrew Cuomo's run for New York City mayor, new campaign finance filings show. It's the latest example of GOP-affiliated players getting behind New York's Democratic former governor as he vies to replace Mayor Eric Adams. Ackman's contribution helped the pro-Cuomo Fix the City super PAC exceed $4.8 million in donations, while an effort to blunt Cuomo's comeback is having a much tougher time. New Yorkers for Better Leadership reported a $1,000 contribution from climate tech investor Thomas O'Keefe — its first donation of $1,000 or more since forming March 11 to castigate Cuomo's Albany record. Other super PACs opposing Cuomo have also attracted only modest support. New Yorkers for Lower Costs, which favors democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, reported raising $56,500 through last week. And a group with the slogan 'Don't Rank Evil Andrew for Mayor' has just $10,500 in contributions of $1,000 or more. Fix the City, meanwhile, has lured 71 major contributors since the beginning of March, according to disclosures filed Monday with the state Board of Elections. Over the past week, New York real estate developer brothers Kamran and Frederick Elghanayan of TF Cornerstone donated $25,000 each, cardboard magnate Dennis Mehiel gave $50,000 and Republican Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, who served as state treasurer under former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, gave $5,000. The donations underscore Cuomo's appeal to finance and real estate titans as he dominates the polls in his bid for mayor. A political firebrand, Ackman's opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion policies have triggered weekly protests from Al Sharpton. Ackman made headlines last week for breaking with Trump over his tariff policy, then vociferously praising Trump for delaying the implementation. 'This was brilliantly executed' by Trump, Ackman posted on X. 'Textbook, Art of the Deal.' Representatives for Pershing Square Holdings, Ackman's firm, and the super PAC both declined to comment on the donation. Ackman has been an outspoken critic of Columbia University's handling of campus protests supporting Palestine and criticizing Israel. Cuomo has also criticized Columbia's response in making opposition to antisemitism a central plank of his campaign. A prolific donor to Republicans and Democrats, Ackman also gave $2,034 to long-shot Democratic mayoral candidate Whitney Tilson — an investor with whom he attended Harvard University. Campaign finance records show Ackman last gave to Cuomo for his gubernatorial reelection bid in 2013, and he contributed $250,000 to a super PAC backing Wall Street investor Ray McGuire, who finished seventh in the Democratic primary for mayor four years ago. Cuomo's opponents have criticized his donors as out of step with Democratic primary voters. 'Brad Lander has joined Rev. Sharpton and the National Action Network to protest Bill Ackman's disgusting pushes to roll back civil rights and DEI programs nationally,' Dora Pekec, a spokesperson for the city comptroller and mayoral candidate, said in a statement. 'No one is surprised Trump agent Ackman is bankrolling Cuomo's Super PAC, after Cuomo himself accepted thousands in donations from MAGA donors who helped elect Trump.' Lauren Hitt, a spokesperson for New Yorkers for Better Leadership, said more money would come to block Cuomo. 'We know that it is more than possible to fund a strong anti-Cuomo movement, and we're confident once a strong challenger emerges to the former governor, that effort can come together quickly,' Hitt said in a statement. 'Cuomo is still very beatable — he has the highest negatives of any candidate in the race, and his lead is primarily rooted in the fact that his challengers are virtually unknown.' Earlier donors to Fix the City include entertainment mogul Barry Diller, Walmart heir Alice Walton and singer Billy Joel, a friend of Cuomo's. Players in the real estate and financial sectors have donated heavily to the organization, which is run by longtime Cuomo ally Steven Cohen. New York City mayoral candidates who participate in the city's matching funds program — as all Democrats this year are — agree to a $2,100 contribution ceiling, but super PACs can take unlimited donations as long as they don't coordinate with campaigns.
Politico
14-04-2025
- Business
- Politico
Trump backer Bill Ackman supports Cuomo's mayoral bid with $250K donation
NEW YORK — Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, a prominent supporter of Republican President Donald Trump, has donated $250,000 to a super PAC boosting Andrew Cuomo's run for New York City mayor, new campaign finance filings show. It's the latest example of GOP-affiliated players getting behind New York's Democratic former governor as he vies to replace Mayor Eric Adams. Ackman's contribution helped the pro-Cuomo Fix the City super PAC exceed $4.8 million in donations, while an effort to blunt Cuomo's comeback is having a much tougher time. New Yorkers for Better Leadership reported a $1,000 contribution from climate tech investor Thomas O'Keefe — its first donation of $1,000 or more since forming March 11 to castigate Cuomo's Albany record. Other super PACs opposing Cuomo have also attracted only modest support. New Yorkers for Lower Costs, which favors democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, reported raising $56,500 through last week. And a group with the slogan 'Don't Rank Evil Andrew for Mayor' has just $10,500 in contributions of $1,000 or more. Fix the City, meanwhile, has lured 71 major contributors since the beginning of March, according to disclosures filed Monday with the state Board of Elections. Over the past week, New York real estate developer brothers Kamran and Frederick Elghanayan of TF Cornerstone donated $25,000 each, cardboard magnate Dennis Mehiel gave $50,000 and Republican Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, who served as state treasurer under former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, gave $5,000. The donations underscore Cuomo's appeal to finance and real estate titans as he dominates the polls in his bid for mayor. A political firebrand, Ackman's opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion policies have triggered weekly protests from Al Sharpton. Ackman made headlines last week for breaking with Trump over his tariff policy, then vociferously praising Trump for delaying the implementation. 'This was brilliantly executed' by Trump, Ackman posted on X . 'Textbook, Art of the Deal.' Representatives for Pershing Square Holdings, Ackman's firm, and the super PAC both declined to comment on the donation. Ackman has been an outspoken critic of Columbia University's handling of campus protests supporting Palestine and criticizing Israel. Cuomo has also criticized Columbia's response in making opposition to antisemitism a central plank of his campaign. A prolific donor to Republicans and Democrats, Ackman also gave $2,034 to long-shot Democratic mayoral candidate Whitney Tilson — an investor with whom he attended Harvard University. Campaign finance records show Ackman last gave to Cuomo for his gubernatorial reelection bid in 2013, and he contributed $250,000 to a super PAC backing Wall Street investor Ray McGuire, who finished seventh in the Democratic primary for mayor four years ago. Cuomo's opponents have criticized his donors as out of step with Democratic primary voters. 'Brad Lander has joined Rev. Sharpton and the National Action Network to protest Bill Ackman's disgusting pushes to roll back civil rights and DEI programs nationally,' Dora Pekec, a spokesperson for the city comptroller and mayoral candidate, said in a statement. 'No one is surprised Trump agent Ackman is bankrolling Cuomo's Super PAC, after Cuomo himself accepted thousands in donations from MAGA donors who helped elect Trump.' Lauren Hitt, a spokesperson for New Yorkers for Better Leadership, said more money would come to block Cuomo. 'We know that it is more than possible to fund a strong anti-Cuomo movement, and we're confident once a strong challenger emerges to the former governor, that effort can come together quickly,' Hitt said in a statement. 'Cuomo is still very beatable — he has the highest negatives of any candidate in the race, and his lead is primarily rooted in the fact that his challengers are virtually unknown.' Earlier donors to Fix the City include entertainment mogul Barry Diller, Walmart heir Alice Walton and singer Billy Joel, a friend of Cuomo's. Players in the real estate and financial sectors have donated heavily to the organization, which is run by longtime Cuomo ally Steven Cohen. New York City mayoral candidates who participate in the city's matching funds program — as all Democrats this year are — agree to a $2,100 contribution ceiling, but super PACs can take unlimited donations as long as they don't coordinate with campaigns.
