LANSING, Mich. (March 20, 2025) — In recent weeks, Washington Republicans, including President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, have been laying the groundwork to make massive cuts to Medicaid. To protect the program and the essential health care coverage it provides to one-in-four Michiganders — including children, seniors, and people with disabilities — Michigan lawmakers joined the Committee to Protect Health Care for a press conference at the Capitol. In response, Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), Chair of the Senate Health Policy Committee, provided the following statement:
“Medicaid is an investment in the health of our state, one that over 2.6 million Michiganders rely on. But right now, Medicaid is at risk because Elon Musk and Republicans in Washington want to slash its funding in order to pay for a giant tax break for their billionaire buddies and the corporations they run. This is not an exaggeration or political hysteria. This is a real and credible threat to Michiganders’ health care.
“At the end of the day, any cuts to Medicaid will have long-term and expensive repercussions, including worse health outcomes, unnecessary deaths, and economic hardship. President Trump, Elon: it’s time to stop playing games with the health of kids, seniors, and families who rely on a fully funded Medicaid program. And if you don’t, you can bet on a fight.”
As Chair of the Health Policy Committee, Sen. Hertel is laser focused on expanding access to quality, affordable health care for Michiganders. He was instrumental in codifying popular provisions of the Affordable Care Act into state law and has worked to pass legislation to establish a state-based health insurance exchange and a prescription drug affordability board in Michigan.
To view the full press conference, click here. To learn more about Sen. Hertel’s work, visit SenatorKevinHertel.com/press.
