Latest news with #U.S.HouseofRepresentatives'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Whitmer: Republican Medicaid cuts will be detrimental for Michiganders
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (at bottom), joined Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (top left) and New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham (top right) on a virtual press call organized by the Democratic Governors Association to discuss the effects of Medicaid cuts. May 21, 2025 | Screenshot Michigan's Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday evening that the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives' budget bill – which passed Thursday morning – would have disastrous consequences for 2.6 million Michiganders. The dire message came during a virtual press call organized by the Democratic Governors Association on Wednesday. Whitmer was joined by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The call was meant to highlight the potentially damaging effects of making deep cuts to Medicaid, which has been a part of ongoing negotiations among Republican appropriators in the U.S. House of Representatives. Each member of Michigan's Republican congressional delegation voted for the bill, while the Democratic members of the delegation voted against it. Whitmer said that among the 2.6 million Michiganders who could lose access to their coverage if the cuts go through, nearly one million were children. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'They're our neighbors. They're people who are battling cancer, veterans who served our country, who are disabled, the family next door, and the GOP is rushing to terminate Medicaid coverage for millions of Americans as fast as possible,' Whitmer said. 'They don't want us to see all that is contained in that bill, and blasting through these cuts is going to hurt those who can least afford care, and won't do anything to lower our health care costs. In fact, they'll rise for everyone.' Whitmer said the Republican U.S. House budget currently in the works would make some of the largest cuts to Medicaid in the country's history. She added that the cuts would cause providers to close their doors, a potential lack of available rural health care and a reduction in the quality of medical service in Michigan – on top of the possibility of terminated coverage for children and post-partum women. 'Make no mistake, families in Michigan and all across the country are going to feel the effects of this bill in our day-to-day lives,' Whitmer said. 'I'm talking to Michiganders every day. I'm hearing their stories. … We should be working across the aisle to make health care better and easier to afford, kind of like we've done here in Michigan.' Whitmer touted the bipartisan effort to enact the Healthy Michigan Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, which expanded Medicaid to more than a million people. Last year, the state also codified portions of the Affordable Care Act into Michigan. 'We wanted to protect Michiganders with pre-existing conditions and let kids stay on their parents' insurance until they're 26, and we wanted to guarantee essential services and insurance plans,' she said. If Republicans in Congress truly wanted to see improvements in health costs and help for more families to get coverage, Whitmer said she was all for it and was willing to work with them. But that's not what the budget bill does, she noted. 'It does the opposite,' Whitmer said. 'Families in my state and all across the country are going to pay the price for it, and that's why we're together, united, fighting for the people in our country and our ability to get health care.' Whitmer was asked about U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township), one of the front runners on the Michigan Republican side of the 2026 gubernatorial race to replace her. James voted to move the bill out of committee and voted for the bill on Thursday. The congressman has been steadfast in his belief that the bill and its cuts to Medicaid would help reduce fraud, waste and abuse. Michigan's governor was asked if voters from her state were willing to accept that argument. Whitmer said that she worked with Republican former Gov. Rick Snyder to expand the state's Medicaid program when she was the Michigan Senate minority leader before running for governor herself. She said Snyder, a self-professed 'nerd' for details, understood the math involved and what it meant to have access to these types of programs. 'It motivated him to work across the aisle. Almost a million people in Michigan got health care because of that work,' Whitmer said. 'It is shocking to me that we are in this moment where if there was one [Republican] congressperson with a backbone from each of our four states, they could single handedly stop this from happening by working together.' In that vein, she called on James to stand up to his caucus and be a hero. 'He says he wants my job. Well, you know what? I guarantee he doesn't want it if he's throwing 700,000 people off of health care in the state, running hospitals into the ground,' Whitmer said. 'He could be a hero here. … Michiganders expect and want leaders who are going to put their interests first. And so this talking point about fraud, we're all against fraud; 100 percent of us are against fraud, and we know there's always more ways that we can help find some savings and make government work better. But that's not what this bill is all about. This bill is about terminating healthcare for Americans in order to pay for a tax break for the ultra wealthy.'
Rakyat Post
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Rakyat Post
Police Operation On 70 Falun Gong Members During Chinese President's Malaysia Visit Draws Attention
Subscribe to our FREE Malaysian authorities detained over 70 Falun Gong practitioners in Kuala Lumpur ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit last month, leading to discussions about law enforcement procedures and religious assembly rights. The operation, conducted on 13 April at a shop lot in Cheras, resulted in the arrest of 47 Malaysian citizens and 29 Chinese nationals. Falun Gong practitioner Jane Teo told TRP that the group was gathered for what participants describe as a book reading session. The 29-year-old from Kuantan, Pahang, and her Johorean husband, Max Chua, 45, were among those detained. We were questioned about potential activities during Xi's upcoming visit. The couple states they were released on 17 April, after Xi departed from Malaysia. According to Teo, many Chinese nationals were held much longer, only gaining their release more than a week later. She alleged that authorities deliberately prolonged the detention period and exploited legal technicalities by classifying it as an 'investigation' rather than an arrest, which would have required stricter procedural timelines. Police Chief Defends Arrests, Cites Legal Procedures Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Rusdi Isa confirms the arrests, explaining they were conducted under the Societies Act due to the group's status as an unregistered organisation. 'When a group is illegal, it means they are not allowed to conduct any activity,' Rusdi stated at a press conference, emphasising that all actions followed proper legal procedures. The police chief explained that the extended detention period for some individuals was necessary due to the large number of statements that needed to be collected. When the number is big, police have to collect statements from all of them, so it takes time. Unexpected Crackdown Despite Prior Warning Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual movement that emerged in China in the 1990s, has faced restrictions in various countries. It is closely associated with Teo said the arrests caught the practitioners off guard despite what she claims were prior warnings from authorities to pause their activities during Xi's visit. We have conducted activities in Malaysia for many years, including regular public awareness campaigns about organ transplant issues in Kuala Lumpur's Bukit Bintang district. Group Seeks Local Support, Points to International Protection Measures Before this incident, members say they had operated without significant interference. Initial concerns were about the detained Chinese nationals, mostly women, being deported to China. Teo revealed they are seeking support from Malaysian artist Namewee, known for his vocal criticism of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), to advocate for their cause. She also expressed hope that the recent U.S. House of Representatives' passage of the READ MORE : Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Peoria Notre Dame senior's art to be displayed in U.S. Capitol
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — A senior at Peoria Notre Dame High School was the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for Illinois' 17th District, which includes part of Peoria. As a result, Sara Jorgensen's work, 'Humility & Acceptance,' will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol building for one year. 'Sara's artwork truly reflects the incredible talent and creativity of young artists across our district,' said U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen. 'Her piece, 'Humility & Acceptance,' is a beautiful reminder of how small moments can have a big impact. 'It's an honor to help showcase the next generation of artists and give them a platform to share their vision with the entire country,' the Rockford Democrat added. As the district winner, Sara's artwork will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol alongside winning pieces from congressional districts across the nation. Her work will also be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives' Congressional Art Competition website. The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 and has accepted more than 650,000 pieces of art from high schoolers across the country. This is a nationwide program that highlights and encourages the artistic talent of high school students. Each spring, students from every district submit original pieces for the chance to have their work displayed in Washington, D.C. A video highlighting Sara Jorgensen's artwork can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Medicaid has no excess funds to 'save.' Families like mine need the support
Years ago, we walked into an orphanage in Eastern Europe where children with disabilities were tied to cribs, left with no hope of a future because the society they were born into did not provide the support they needed to survive, let alone thrive. We walked out of that orphanage with our remarkable, chromosomally-enhanced son. But we also walked out knowing that thousands of other children remained behind, trapped in a system that had already given up on them. This is the devastating reality of a society without supports for families with children with disabilities. My 11-year-old daughter, Niyah, has Down syndrome, autism and is a stroke survivor. Medicaid is what allows her to access essential therapies that help her learn to communicate, navigate her environment and develop skills that bring her greater independence. It helps cover in-home support, which makes it possible for our family to function. I can be not only her caregiver but also her mother. These services don't just improve her quality of life. They shape her future. Yet, right now, these life-changing supports are at risk. The U.S. House of Representatives' latest budget proposal includes deep cuts to Medicaid, threatening the very foundation that keeps families like mine afloat. Politicians often frame Medicaid as an overextended program that needs trimming. What they fail to grasp is that there are no excess funds to "save." Every dollar in Medicaid is already stretched to meet urgent needs. And still, the need outweighs the funding. My 12-year-old son, Carter, also has Down syndrome, but unlike his sister, he doesn't receive or qualify for Medicaid services in Texas. He has been on the Medicaid waiver waitlist since 2016. His number on the list is 56,034. In Texas, this isn't unusual. Families routinely wait decades for services, leaving many without the support they need to thrive. The reality is stark: There is no safety net. Families are either lucky enough to get in or left scrambling. Prior to 1977, more than 80% of individuals with intellectual disabilities were institutionalized. Today, that number is less than 8%. This shift happened because we, as a nation, made a commitment to community-based care, to keeping families together, and to supporting individuals with disabilities in living meaningful lives. We cannot afford to go backward. The conversation about Medicaid isn't just about budgets and numbers. It's about real people. When children with disabilities can't access the care they need, families struggle, and the burden doesn't just disappear. It shifts to an already strained system. States that fail to invest in Medicaid ultimately pay the price elsewhere, whether through overwhelmed emergency rooms, overburdened foster care systems, the moral and financial cost of increased institutionalization or parents forced out of the workforce to provide care themselves. Too often, policymakers champion the idea of protecting life before birth, yet fail to extend that same commitment once children are here —especially when they have disabilities. Ensuring access to Medicaid is a direct way to uphold the value of life beyond birth. I often think back to that orphanage, walking out with our incredible son and the heaviness of leaving behind countless children. The difference between those children and mine isn't just love; it's support. And when we talk about cuts to Medicaid, what we're really talking about is whether families like mine can stay together, whether children with disabilities can have a future, and whether we, as a society, will choose to invest in that future or turn away. So, the question remains: Are people with disabilities worth it? If we truly believe in the value of every life, then the answer must be yes. Carly Durham is a nurse practitioner, disability advocate and mother of two children with disabilities. She lives with her family in Richmond, Texas. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Medicaid is essential for disabled children. Don't cut it | Opinion
Axios
04-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
How federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP could affect Ohio
Proposed federal cuts could slash funding to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program relied upon by hundreds of thousands of Central Ohioans. Why it matters: Cuts could put the programs at risk while potentially costing Ohio tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions in tax revenue. Driving the news: The U.S. House of Representatives' latest budget resolution calls for more than $1 trillion in combined cuts to programs overseen by the House commerce and agriculture committees, which include Medicaid and SNAP, known previously as "food stamps." Zoom in: Those programs are federally funded and administered locally via the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services. Director Michelle Lindeboom says the agency works with 406,000 Franklin County residents on Medicaid and 178,000 on SNAP. Threat level: Lindeboom tells Axios her staff and the people they serve are feeling "very uneasy" about the funding uncertainty. "We are talking about the most vulnerable population at a certain poverty level," she says. "We're trying to deal with uncertainty and making people feel safe that they will still have benefits." Follow the money: Medicaid and SNAP cuts won't just put vulnerable populations at risk — they're projected to be economically detrimental. New analysis from the Commonwealth Fund and the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health sought to estimate the economic consequences of the cuts. What they found: The report found that cuts could lead to a loss of 43,000 jobs, $4.4 billion in economic output and $323 million in lost tax revenue for Ohio. What they're saying: "Some have argued that Medicaid or SNAP budgets can be cut harmlessly by eliminating 'waste or fraud,'" researchers write. "But as we've shown ... drastic reductions in federal funding will necessarily have major financial repercussions, because they shrink the flow of dollars into states' economies."
