AFSCME President Lee Saunders has expressed disappointment following the Senate’s approval of a budget reconciliation bill. The legislation, according to Saunders, could lead to significant cuts in Medicaid and reductions in food assistance and public services across the nation.
“We are deeply disappointed by the Senate’s decision to pass a dangerous budget that tears health care away from over 20 million people, leaves millions without food assistance, and saddles working families with higher costs,” said Saunders. He highlighted concerns for caregivers relying on Medicaid, parents struggling with grocery expenses, and nurses worried about patient care. Saunders criticized the budget for prioritizing tax cuts for billionaires at the expense of community welfare.
AFSCME members have been advocating against this budget, urging Congress to prioritize working families over tax cuts for the wealthy. “Instead, a narrow majority in the United States Senate sold out their own constituents by gutting the health care, food assistance and public services our communities count on,” Saunders stated. He warned that these decisions would not only raise costs for working individuals but also lead to fiscal challenges forcing local governments to reduce funding or shut down essential services such as schools and hospitals.
Saunders described the bill as “the largest transfer of wealth from working families to billionaires and big corporations in American history” and emphasized its potential impact on lives and jobs. As the bill returns to the House for final passage, AFSCME members plan to continue their efforts to oppose it.
