Today, the Michigan Democratic Party hosted a press conference with the Democratic congressional candidate for Michigan’s fourth congressional district Joseph Alfonso, Kalamazoo County Democratic Party Chair Mariah Phelps, and constituent Javier Juarez to call out Congressman Bill Huizenga and the entire GOP for their plan to sunset Medicare and Social Security.
Speakers expressed their outrage that Republicans like Huizenga are voting against the interests of Michiganders and are now running on a platform to get rid of two of the most important federal programs for seniors and people with disabilities: Social Security and Medicare. They highlighted the impact the GOP plan would have on their Michigan neighbors who have worked their whole lives to gain their hard-earned Social Security and Medicare benefits, and thanked the Michigan Democrats who are working to cap monthly insulin costs and pushing to make billionaires pay their fair share without raising taxes on anyone making less than $400,000.
WATCH HERE
“I know my community: Over 54,000 people in Kalamazoo County are of Medicare and Social Security recipient age. If the Republicans like Huizenga get their way, those 54,000 [Michiganders] will struggle to afford medications, keep a roof over their head, and worse,” said Kalamazoo County Democratic Chair Mariah Phelps. “Huizenga is running to represent a portion of Kalamazoo County and yet doesn’t seem to care about how his votes impact us. Let me put it simply, Michiganders who rely on Medicare or Social Security can’t afford Republican control and we can’t afford Bill Huizenga.”
“During the first month of me moving to Michigan, I was injured in a traumatic accident at work and I’ve been disabled since. Workers comp wasn’t enough so I had to rely on Medicare — these benefits have saved my life,” said Javier Juarez. “I am one of the two million Michiganders relying on Medicare coverage[…], without it I wouldn’t be able to sustain myself, pay my rent, or put food on the table. Bill Huizenga has voted against the best interest of his constituents at every turn, now he’s coming after our Social Security and Medicare. Meanwhile, President Biden and Michigan Democrats have cut taxes for working families and laid out a plan that will lower costs, keep Medicare intact, and bolster our Social Security.”
“My wife and I are both Marine Corp veterans, we’ve earned our VA benefits and I know that Medicare and Social Security serve a similar purpose to over two million people in our state,” said Democratic congressional candidate for MI-04 Joseph Alfonso. “Don’t tell an entire generation they can’t retire.”
