{"id":2908,"date":"2025-04-05T14:34:57","modified":"2025-04-05T14:35:00","slug":"fetterman-rejects-gop-budget-slashing-medicaid-snap-for-billionaire-tax-breaks","link":"https:\/\/www.fetterman.senate.gov\/fetterman-rejects-gop-budget-slashing-medicaid-snap-for-billionaire-tax-breaks\/","title":{"rendered":"Fetterman Rejects GOP Budget Slashing Medicaid, SNAP for Billionaire Tax Breaks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Washington, D.C.<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Today, the United States Senate passed the 2025 Budget Resolution along party lines after Senate Republicans blocked 19 amendments to protect Americans\u2019 Medicaid, Medicare and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits; address the economic fallout of President Trump\u2019s tariff orders; and rein in DOGE\u2019s takedown of the federal workforce. U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) cast a firm \u201cNO\u201d vote on the budget and released the following statement in response:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cI voted a hard NO on the Republicans\u2019 so-called \u2018big, beautiful\u2019 budget bill.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cI will never support any bill that strips Medicaid, Medicare, or SNAP benefits from Americans to bankroll tax cuts for billionaires.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cPennsylvania deserves better than this and I\u2019ll keep fighting for a government that serves the people, not special interests.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The FY25 Budget Resolution establishes an overall limit on government spending. Congress will now proceed to the appropriations process, where lawmakers determine exactly how much money each federal agency and program receives. In effect, this budget serves as Congress\u2019s blueprint for which federal programs are prioritized in determining where federal dollars go.&nbsp;<strong>Senator Fetterman voted against it, and here\u2019s why.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Attacks on Medicaid and Medicare<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>More than\u00a0<strong>3.1 million Pennsylvanians<\/strong>\u00a0rely on Medicaid and the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>39%<\/strong>\u00a0of Pennsylvania children and\u00a0<strong>45,000<\/strong>\u00a0births per year rely on CHIP and Medicaid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medicaid covers more than\u00a0<strong>722,000 people with a disability<\/strong>\u00a0in Pennsylvania.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Threats to Social Security<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ongoing reorganization at the agency under DOGE puts\u00a0<strong>325,148<\/strong>\u00a0Pennsylvanians\u2019 checks at risk, totaling\u00a0<strong>$232.8 million<\/strong>\u00a0in monthly payments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Rising Costs from Tariffs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>President Trump\u2019s tariff orders could cost the average family\u00a0<strong>$4,000<\/strong>\u00a0per year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In Pennsylvania alone:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Up to\u00a0<strong>$5.84 billion<\/strong>\u00a0hit to the state economy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>347,100<\/strong>\u00a0jobs affected.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An estimated\u00a0<strong>$64,000<\/strong>\u00a0cost per family.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cuts to SNAP Food Assistance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Over\u00a0<strong>2 million<\/strong>\u00a0Pennsylvanians rely on SNAP to put food on the table.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>11%<\/strong>\u00a0of Pennsylvania households face food insecurity, with more than\u00a0<strong>60,000 veterans<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>700,000 children\u00a0<\/strong>who rely on SNAP for meal assistance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SNAP brought\u00a0<strong>$4.27 billion<\/strong>\u00a0to Pennsylvania in FY 2024.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Senator Fetterman remains committed to protecting Pennsylvanians\u2019 access to affordable health care, stable incomes in retirement, and relief from escalating costs. He will continue working with his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to protect these critical programs and services as the appropriations process moves forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false}}