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When Erin Jackson-Hill was struggling with alcohol and addiction, the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid helped her pay for lifesaving treatment.
Now, she鈥檚 the executive director of Alaskans Take a Stand and Stand Up Alaska, and she traveled to D.C. to fight against funding cuts to Medicaid and Medicare.
鈥淵ou might not be on Medicaid, Medicare now, but you have no idea. You might be one accident away from being on Medicaid,鈥� Jackson-Hill said.
She spoke at the “Save Our Health Care March” on Wednesday. More than 1,000 people marched from Columbus Circle to the U.S. Capitol, holding signs that read, 鈥淥ur health care is not for sale鈥� and 鈥淪ome cuts don鈥檛 heal.鈥�
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the House Republicans鈥� budget goals can鈥檛 be reached without cuts to Medicaid. Millions of Americans rely on Medicaid, including children, the elderly, people with disabilities and low-income adults.
鈥淲hy would we do that to folks? That is cruel,鈥� Jackson-Hill said. 鈥淚t’s evil. It’s hatefulness at a scale I have never seen before. And it’s actually our government doing it to us.鈥�
Analilia Mejia is co-director for the Center for Popular Democracy, which organized the demonstration.
鈥淭aking away those resources will not happen silently, and we will not stand for it,鈥� Mejia said. 鈥淲e are going to push through this budget reconciliation.鈥�
She was impressed with the turnout, which included members of the nation鈥檚 largest nurses union, National Nurses United.
鈥淚 feel empowered. I feel motivated,鈥� Mejia said. 鈥淚 feel disgusted that we even have to do this.鈥�
Many now have plans to take their concerns to their elected representatives.
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