[CGI News] Iowa groups ask congressional delegation to protect Medicaid, SNAP

EDITOR'S NOTE: Updated with House passage

DES MOINES – Dozens of state and regional organizations in Iowa have asked all six members of the Iowa congressional delegation to protect Medicaid and SNAP in current federal budget negotiations.

“We, the undersigned Iowa organizations, strive to assure that our neighbors can afford to see a doctor and put food on the table, even when their individual financial circumstances take a turn for the worse,” the organizations stated. “Our goals mirror those of the vast majority of Iowans, who, regardless of their political leanings, believe in a government that works and supports Iowans in building the lives we want for ourselves and our families.”

The letter was delivered to the offices of Iowa’s four House members and two senators, while many Iowans – in separate action – visited the members’ offices in the state to protect those critical supports.

“The reality is most Iowans cannot afford to pay more for food and health care. Household budgets are stretched thin. Cutting Medicaid and SNAP would increase families’ costs — and strain the local institutions Iowans rely on, like hospitals, nursing homes, food pantries and grocery stores,” the letter stated.

Find the full text of the letter at this link — https://www.commongoodiowa.org/get-involved/iowa-orgs-say-dont-cut-medicaid-and-snap — on the website of Common Good Iowa, a nonpartisan policy organization that was one of the 17 statewide organizations signing on. Another 26 local and regional organizations also signed the letter.

Tuesday evening the House narrowly passed its Budget Resolution, with all four Iowa representatives voting in favor. It would require the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut at least $880 billion from Medicaid and require the Agriculture Committee to cut at least $230 billion from SNAP. These are not small sums; they would require deep cuts that would likely touch every Iowan who depends on these programs.

A separate Senate plan, narrower in scope than the House plan, would still open the door to harmful cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and other human-serving programs.

Anne Discher, executive director of Common Good Iowa, noted Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has publicly expressed some caution about making large cuts to Medicaid and other popular programs, calling that approach “an uphill battle.”

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For More Information:

Mike Owen, deputy director, mowen@commongoodiowa.org

Anne Discher, executive director, adischer@commongoodiowa.org