Bridget Mary Meehan's Letter to Editor published in Sarasota Herald Tribune, May 28,2017, "Protest Massive Cuts in Programs for Poor"

Cookie, a woman with special needs  in wheel chair and friend hope to get housing in June. My concern is if benefits are cut, they will be on the streets with no hope of housing or food. 

According to the Congressional Budget Office, an estimated 23 million Americans could lose health insurance as a result of the devastating Republican bill that passed the House. The Trump budget proposes massive cuts to Medicaid and programs to help children, seniors and low-income and disabled Americans, and offers the rich generous tax breaks.

I don’t understand how we can allow politicians to treat the most vulnerable among us so cruelly. What’s next, throwing grandma out of the nursing home because her Medicaid funds have run out, and no Meals on Wheels for the disabled and elderly? I cannot believe that tax cuts for the wealthy 1 percent and slashing programs that benefit the middle class and poor reflect our values as a democracy.

As Pope Francis said: “Health is not a consumer good but a universal right. So access to health services cannot be a privilege.” This, in my view, includes affordable access to birth control and health services for women.

It is time for another million-person March on Washington, more town-hall meetings, and phone calls and emails to our senators and representatives. We, the people, must make our voices heard if we want to remain a democracy.

Bridget Mary Meehan, Sarasota

Practical Steps You Can Take: 

Email HealthReform@finance.senate.gov

and  

Call the Republican Moderate Senators below who can stop this bill in Washington DC 202-224-3121

Lamar Alexander

Shelley Moore Capito

Bill Cassidy

Susan Collins

Dean Heller

Lisa Murkowski

Rob Portman

and Call Your Senators from your State.

I called all this past week.  

Marco Rubio 202 224 3041

Bill Nelson 202- 224-5274