A Billionaire Tax Break that Keeps the Groceries Away: Beatty Fights GOP Plan to Slash Health Care and Food Aid

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) joined fellow House Democrats in offering amendments before the House Rules Committee to the Republican budget bill that would slash essential benefits for hardworking families—just to bankroll tax cuts for billionaires.  Despite Republicans’ efforts to jam through this deeply unpopular legislation by holding a late-night hearing, she and other House Democrats are testifying this morning on their amendments before the Committee, which began its hearing at 1:00 am today.

Beatty’s amendment would block the implementation of the GOP’s massive tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy if the budget bill’s other provisions cut funding for Medicaid, Social Security, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In her testimony, which will be delivered later this morning, Beatty will call out the proposal for what it is: “one big reckless and heartless attack on American families.”

“The top 0.1%—billionaires—will get a tax break of $278,000 per year,” said Congresswoman Beatty. “That’s $762 a day—almost twice the weekly salary of a minimum wage worker in Ohio. Meanwhile, Republicans are ripping away health care and food assistance from the people who need it most.”

The Republican budget proposal would take healthcare away from nearly 14 million Americans, gut food assistance programs, and drive up costs for families—especially women, children, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Beatty didn’t just cite numbers—she spoke directly about Arnishia, a mother of two and cancer survivor in Ohio, who depends on Medicaid for post-treatment check-ups and uses SNAP to put healthy food on the table for her children. “Losing these benefits would be devastating,” Beatty said. “I’m offering this amendment for Arnishia—and for the 2.4 million Ohioans who rely on Medicaid.”

Beatty and House Democrats remain united in their fight to block this reverse-Robin-Hood-style tax scam.

“If Republicans truly believe this bill doesn’t cut benefits,” Beatty challenged, “then they should have no problem supporting my amendment. But we all know the truth—they're willing to trade your child’s school lunch and your grandma’s doctor visit for another yacht tax break.”

Watch Rep. Beatty’s remarks from the Capitol earlier this morning HERE.

See Rep. Beatty’s prepared statement to the Rules Committee HERE

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