Leading Organizations Launch Ad Campaign to Defend Healthcare in Face of Potential Republican Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Public Citizen, Indivisible, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) today are launching a new ad campaign in Politico’s Influence newsletter urging Congress to stand firm in defense of health care against Trump and Republicans’ threat to shut down the government to further curb Americans’ access to health care.
The ads spotlight the threat Republicans pose to affordable health care in the coming budget fight, stating: “Millions of Americans are losing access to healthcare because of Trump and Republicans in Congress. But tearing away our health insurance wasn’t enough for them. Now, they would rather shut down the government than stop your health insurance premiums from going up. Enough is enough! We must fight to save healthcare in the federal budget.”
The campaign comes as the deadline for budget negotiations in congress approaches, with potentially disastrous consequences for ordinary Americans if MAGA Republicans have their way. Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, stated: “A budget deal should be contingent on addressing a top priority for Americans – access to affordable health care. If Republicans refuse to negotiate and move away from their cost-increasing agenda, then they are the ones who will be forcing a government-wide shutdown, all in the service of the billionaire class at the expense of the American people.”
Andrew O’Neill, National Advocacy Director at Indivisible, added: “Congressional Republicans seem intent upon ripping healthcare away from our communities and continuously circumventing our budget laws. If they refuse to negotiate an agreement that addresses the crisis of health care access and affordability – or insist on loopholes that will undermine the bill from the jump – they will bear full blame for a government shutdown.”
Leslie Frane, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Executive Vice President stated: “We need Congress to reverse the cruel mistakes Republicans made when they ripped healthcare away from millions of people by slashing Medicaid and raising costs for everyone. It’s time to stop funding giveaways for greedy corporations and the wealthiest Americans on the backs of working families. It’s time for Congress to do the right thing.”
The ad launch is part of a broader initiative by the sponsoring organizations and others to demand Congress agree on a budget plan that protects health care from Trump administration cuts and prevents Trump from simply refusing to spend duly appropriated funds.