Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Defends Medicaid Against Republican Plan to Gut the Program to Fund Tax Breaks for Special Interests

CHICAGO – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) joined dozens of Illinois state and federal leaders, including Gov. JB Pritzker, Sen. Dick Durbin, and several members of the Illinois congressional delegation, as well as advocates, to showcase a united front and commitment to protecting Medicaid and health care in Illinois. More than 3.4 million Illinoisans, roughly 25 percent of the state’s population, depend on Medicaid for access to health care, including 1.4 million children. In Illinois’ 8th Congressional District, over 158,000 people, including nearly 78,000 children, rely on Medicaid.

“This heartless Republican budget is not about fiscal responsibility—it’s about gutting Medicaid and endangering the care of millions of Illinoisans who rely on it, including seniors, children, and people with disabilities,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “Slashing Medicaid to bankroll tax cuts for billionaires goes against the very values our state holds dear. I am proud to stand united with leaders from across Illinois as we fight like hell to uphold those values and protect Illinois families.”

“More than 3 million hardworking Illinoisans are enrolled in Medicaid in every corner of the state – these are our children, moms and dads, seniors, and people with disabilities,” Gov. JB Pritzker said. “If Medicaid is cut, no state in the country – including Illinois – has the money to backfill the billions of dollars in funding and the consequences will be devastating. Today, I’m encouraging Illinoisans to make their voices heard and demand that Trump and Vance and Republicans in Washington prioritize your healthcare over tax cuts for the wealthy. Stand up. Speak out. Show up.” 

“Our federal government has turned their backs on all but the wealthiest people in America. The proposed federal budget is for no one but 1% of the 1%," Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said. "Our rural communities, low-income neighbors. and anyone who already lacks access to care will be impacted first. Medicaid saves lives—full stop, and no matter what, we will keep fighting for our working families." 

Since its inception in 1965, Medicaid has become a vital part of America’s healthcare landscape, currently covering 72 million low-income Americans. For a family of four, this translates to an annual household income of $44,364. In a national survey, most Americans said they had a connection to the Medicaid program, and two-thirds believe that the current program is working well for low-income families.

The link to Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s remarks can be found here.