Sen. Lesser, Rep. Gilchrest Condemn Congressional Passage of Sweeping Cuts to Medicaid, SNAP

HARTFORD – State Senator Matt Lesser and State Representative Jillian Gilchrest, co-chairs of the Human Services Committee, issued a statement in response to Congressional Republicans passing Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” that slashes funding to Medicaid, food assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), education and clean energy programs.

The bill cuts funding for Medicaid by $700 billion, cuts $300 billion from SNAP and imposes unworkable administrative requirements on the Department of Social Services (DSS).

“In the middle of the night, Congressional Republicans took their marching orders from Donald Trump and passed a draconian wealth transfer that rips away Americans’ most basic needs to pay for a tax cut for those who are so wealthy they won’t even notice it. Let us be clear – this bill results in hundreds of millions of dollars in unfunded mandates on Connecticut taxpayers. It shifts the costs associated with protecting our most vulnerable residents – the most basic principal of government – from the federal government to the states.”

“This policy will result in 15 million more uninsured Americans, increase the cost for Connecticut residents who purchase private insurance on Access Health and devastate our local grocers and hospitals who are major employers in our state.”

“Donald Trump has sold out hard working Americans to pad the bank accounts of his cronies like Elon Musk, and Congressional Republicans ought to be ashamed of themselves for allowing it to happen.”