Letter to the editor: Don't vote to cute health programs

On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blamed rising federal deficits and debt on Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. It is like he just completely forgot that he passed a $1.5 trillion tax cut for the rich last December! Republicans have not seen a tax cut for the rich they didn’t like. They know that tax cuts mean more campaign contributions for themselves, and act on that basis with no regard to the impact on our parents and grandparents.

Republicans passed a tax cut on purely party lines but claim that the deficit it caused by Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. These programs give health insurance to 125 million Americans and financial security for 65 million Americans. As the debate over Republican tax breaks for the wealthy was near its end, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) insisted that the tax cuts didn’t need to be paid for – because they’d pay for themselves in economic growth. Most Americans have yet to see any significant tax cut; the cuts went predominantly to the rich, fat cats and *shockingly* did not trickle down as McConnell expected. The U.S. Treasury reported that our deficit will be near a trillion dollars this year, highest in years. Sen. McConnell added that he believes “Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid” funding constitutes “the real driver of the debt.” You heard it from the Republican leader, Republicans want to make cuts to vital safety net programs rooted in our nation’s history. We cannot continue to let Republicans rake in contributions for themselves while the elderly and most vulnerable are getting kicked off of their healthcare. Imagine if your grandparent didn’t have any have these programs to get by. Kristi Noem and Dusty Johnson support these cuts. Tim Bjorkman and Billie Sutton don’t. They want middle class tax fairness, reduce our debt while preserving Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, not cut these vital programs. South Dakotans have a choice. Vote for Bjorkman, Sutton and Seiler on Nov. 6.

Jillian Stamp

Sioux Falls