Disability Community, Fight for Our Health Coalition and Advocates from Across California Thank Senate Democrats and Urge Assembly and Governor to Include Revenue Solutions in Final State Budget

SACRAMENTO, CA – Nearly 200 Californians descended on the State Capitol Thursday, traveling from across the state to demand that the Legislature and Governor protect Medi-Cal by including new revenue solutions in the final state budget. This critical action is needed in order to mitigate the devastating impacts H.R. 1 will have on Californians’ health care access. 

People with disabilities, IHSS workers, family members, and health advocates from Los Angeles, the Bay Area, the Central Valley, and communities across California joined the Disability Voices United and the Fight for Our Health coalition — led by SEIU California, Health Access California, and the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network — for a rally and press conference outside the State Capitol.

H.R. 1, which Trump calls “the Big, Beautiful Bill,”, was passed by Congressional Republicans last year and cuts Medicaid to fund hundreds of billions in tax breaks for corporations and the ultra-wealthy. With nearly 3 million Californians at risk of losing Medi-Cal coverage, advocates said the moment demands bold action from state leaders.

“We know that the California Governor and legislature are not responsible for the upcoming devastating cuts to our health care and services, but we need them to choose disabled people over huge corporations,” said Judy Mark, President, Disability Voices United and parent of a person who relies on Medicaid-funded services and health care. “The ball is in their court.” 

“If Medi-Cal is cut, the outcome is clear: many of us will die,” said Ana Alonso, a person with disabilities and the parent of three sons with disabilities, as well as a Board member of Kern Regional Center. “These cuts put families like mine in danger. Protect our health care and services. Don’t let these cuts go into effect. Do whatever you can to protect disabled people.” 

“The Latino disability community is already impacted by profound disparities in our health care and services,” said Elizabeth Gomez, Director, Integrated Community Collaborative, and the parent of two sons with developmental disabilities. “These cuts will only make things work. We need the Governor and legislature to do the right thing and support disabled people instead of big corporations.”

“California must now grapple with the largest cut to our care in history,” said Melissa Cedillo, Senior Campaign Organizer, Health Access California. “Without state action, millions of Californians will lose coverage, racking up huge medical debt, living sicker, and dying younger. This is all while wealthy corporations are generating huge tax windfalls, paid for by the cuts in our care. It’s time they pay their fair share.”  

“For CPEHN, the fight to protect California from the impacts of H.R. 1 is a fight to save lives in California’s communities of color,” said Kiran Savage-Sangwan, Executive Director, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network. “For our communities, Medi-Cal is a lifeline. The impacts of federal cuts are not inevitable, California leaders must choose care for communities over profits for corporations. The Senate’s Fair Share Contribution plan will ensure corporations pay their fair share, and these revenues must prioritize the needs of Medi-Cal members.”

Following speaker remarks, participants took part in a symbolic tug of war illustrating the choice facing California’s leaders: Californians who depend on Medi-Cal on one side, and representatives of ultra-wealthy corporations — including “McGreedy’s,” “Morebucks,” “Shamazon,” and “Stealmart” — on the other. 

MEDIA ASSETS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Photos and video footage from the rally and press conference are available for media use. Video interviews with disabled residents, people who rely on Medi-Cal, and advocates who attended the rally, are also available. To request assets, contact Jonathan Underland at jonathan@paschalroth.com.

WHAT’S AT STAKE UNDER TRUMP HEALTH CARE CUTS:
 

• Loss of Coverage: Nearly 3 million Californians are expected to lose Medi-Cal coverage and get sicker under the weight of new bureaucratic red tape to prove they are working (even though the majority of Medi-Cal enrollees are employed) or to prove eligibility more frequently. These new hurdles are designed to force people off care who are in fact eligible. 
• An Impossible Choice: Another 2 million Covered California enrollees will be forced to choose between soaring health care premiums or losing their coverage. That’s because the GOP congressional leaders turned their back on working people and struggling small business owners, letting affordability measures expire. 

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