20-03-2025
Oregon lawmakers, medical workers rally in Portland to ‘save Medicaid'
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — U.S. lawmakers from Oregon, medical workers and union representatives rallied in Portland Wednesday evening to 'save Medicaid.'
This comes after Democratic lawmakers say a sets the stage for cutting Medicaid, along with Medicare and Social Security.
The 'Portland Rallies to Save Medicaid' event happened at Holladay Park in Northeast Portland around 5:30 p.m.
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U.S. Democratic Congressional Representatives from Oregon Maxine Dexter, Suzanne Bonamici and Andreas Salinas were in attendance. Bonamici also spoke about the during an event in Beaverton on Tuesday.
'Forty percent of our children in Oregon are covered by Medicaid. We are talking about taking away healthcare from almost half of Oregon's children. Forty-four percent of mothers who are going to give birth are dependent on Medicaid. Can you imagine a new mother going through not only the challenges of childbirth but then the bills that we all know stack up afterwards? We cannot stand by and let this happen,' Dexter said.
Also at the Portland rally were Oregon ADL-CIO President Graham Trainor, SEIU 503 President Johnny Earl, Medicaid recipients and health workers.
The event was organized by SEIU 503, who said in a press release that the potential cuts 'would impact the 1.4 million Oregonians who rely on Medicaid for their healthcare and devastate the state budget.' In addition, organizers said the cuts could jeopardize many jobs for those who work in the healthcare field.
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