LANSING, Mich., July 8, 2025 – On July 7, state Rep. Sharon MacDonell (D-Troy) hosted a public town hall to outline the alarming consequences of the Trump administration’s newly passed federal budget law — the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB). She was joined by state Rep. Natalie Price (D-Berkley) and state Sens. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) and Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), and a crowd of 180 community members. The OBBB slashes more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and $186 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — and creates an estimated $2 billion hole in Michigan’s state budget. These cuts threaten the food and health security of over two million Michiganders and would force the state to either slash essential services or raise taxes to make up the difference. Roughly 1.5 million Michiganders rely on food assistance, and 2.4 million are enrolled in Medicaid — including 65% of nursing home residents and nearly one in four of the state’s children. According to the lawmakers and experts, the OBBB will send shockwaves through every corner of the state’s economy. “So many families rely on federal funding — from Medicaid and SNAP to key funding for schools,” Price said. “These federal cuts will have a devastating impact on our communities. We should be investing in the services that people need, not cutting their lifelines.” “Medicaid is not just a safety net — it’s the foundation of care for thousands of Michiganders. Preserving Medicaid means protecting our most vulnerable residents,” said Jamie Bragg-Lovejoy, COO of the Michigan Assisted Living Association. At the Troy town hall, attendees voiced serious concerns about how the nearly 1,000-page budget law will upend their daily lives. The conversation focused on its deep cuts to essential programs like Medicaid, SNAP and disability services. Residents expressed fear, frustration and exhaustion over the uncertainty. “This ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ is awful,” McMorrow said. “Enacted, it will be a Big Bad Disaster for Michigan families. It’s the single largest transfer of wealth from poor and working families to the wealthiest in our nation’s history — slashing Medicaid, SNAP, WIC and so much more. Michiganders deserve a budget that lifts everyone up, not one that recklessly leaves hardworking families behind.” Experts and community leaders also joined the lawmakers in raising the alarm on these cuts. “Medicaid is the largest payer for mental health services in Michigan and across the country,” said Robert Sheehan, CEO of the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan. “Beyond that, Medicaid makes up 90% of the revenues of Michigan’s public mental health system — a system that serves persons with the most complex mental health, developmental disability, and substance abuse needs. The Medicaid cuts being proposed by the Congress would threaten the ability of the 300,000 Michiganders with those needs to recover and lead productive lives as students, employees, parents and full members of their communities.” “Royal Oak and all Michigan public schools rely upon federal funding for vital programs serving our communities. When funds are provided then arbitrarily revoked, or if full programs are eliminated, that places undue hardship on the district and it hurts our students,” said MaryBeth Fitzpatrick, retired former Superintendent of Royal Oak Schools. |
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