By The Democrat-aligned group Protect Our Care is launching a new spate of ads targeting GOP-controlled swing districts across the country to highlight constituent opposition to Medicaid funding cuts likely to result from Republicans’ aims to significantly reduce the deficit.
In a release provided exclusively to The Hill, Protect Our Care announced 10 new ads that will launch in districts represented by Republican congresspeople including Reps. David Schweikert (Ariz.), David Valadao (Calif.), Young Kim (Calif.), Ken Calvert (Calif.) and Nick LaLota (N.Y.), among others.
The 30-second ads feature footage of angry constituents at town halls expressing opposition to Medicaid cuts. They also show Steve Bannon, an ally of President Trump, saying in February, “Medicaid you’ve got to be careful, cause a lot of MAGA’s on Medicaid. I’m telling you. If you don’t think so, you’re dead wrong.”
The ads are a part of Protect Our Care’s $10 million “Hands Off Medicaid” campaign launched earlier this year.
Republicans aim to cut $2 trillion in federal spending over the next decade, and according to the Congressional Budget Office, this can’t be achieved without cutting into Medicaid funding. The House committee overseeing Medicaid has been tasked with finding $880 billion to cut from the programs under its jurisdiction.
“Trump and Congressional Republicans are on a crusade to slash Medicaid to fund tax breaks for the wealthy,” Protect Our Care President Brad Woodhouse said in a statement.
“These ads expose Republicans for turning their backs on their constituents and prioritizing tax breaks for billionaires and big companies over the health and financial wellbeing of everyday Americans,” said Woodhouse.
“Republicans’ budget proposal jeopardizes the health care of millions of children, seniors in nursing homes, people with disabilities, cancer patients, veterans, and the list goes on. Americans across the country, including Democratic and Republican voters alike, are counting on Republicans to do the right thing and protect our health care.”
According to the findings of a KFF poll released last month, two-thirds of Trump voters say they want Congress to increase Medicaid spending or keep it at the same level, while a third said they wanted it to be decreased.