On Tuesday, the House voted to advance a GOP budget proposal calling for trillions of dollars in tax cuts and reductions in federal spending over the next ten years. Among the Democrats who voted against the bill was Colorado representative Brittany Pettersen, who denounced the legislation — which would likely mean major cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits — on the House floor while holding her 4-week-old son, Sam.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t given the opportunity to vote remotely after giving birth,” Pettersen said, but added that she wasn’t going to let that stop her from voting no on this “disastrous” budget proposal. “Republicans and Trump promised to lower costs on day one, and instead their priorities have been focused on ripping health care away from kids, seniors, moms, and others who need it most.”
While the budget proposal does not specify which programs should be cut, and Trump has previously claimed Medicaid funding will not be “touched,” the New York Times reports that large cuts to Medicaid are “probably mathematically necessary” to make the budget work. Medicaid currently provides health insurance to millions of low-income Americans — including covering nearly half of all births in the U.S., according to the Times.
Pettersen noted that Republicans are also expected to slash SNAP benefits as part of the bill, “taking food off the plates of seniors, veterans, and kids — all to fund tax breaks for billionaires like Elon Musk.” She added: “How can anyone show their face in their districts after voting yes on this?”