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Amy Roeder represents part of Bangor and Gary Friedmann represents Bar Harbor, Cranberry Isles, Lamoine and Mount Desert in the Maine House of Representatives.
In the midst of what should be a joyous holiday season, millions of Americans are anxious and worried. Stressed about rising food and housing costs squeezing household budgets, Mainers aren’t finding help from Washington
President Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress are essentially raising healthcare costs and cutting coverage. The ripple effects are profound. Farmers accessing health insurance through the Affordable Care Act and struggling from cuts to local food purchasing programs face the worst of all choices: continue farming or find a job that provides health care.
Skilled workers in the building trades, entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, and so many more use the ACA for health insurance. Students access care through the ACA. Thousands of rural residents use the ACA, and rural communities are already struggling with hospitals and clinics closing.
Employers will be facing the biggest premium hikes in 15 years, resulting in lost coverage or higher employee contributions.
The so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” slashed essential funding for Medicaid and Medicare, potentially impacting access to healthcare for many more millions of Americans, and cut funding for rural hospitals, nursing homes and clinics.
These cuts are paying for huge tax breaks mostly for the wealthiest individuals and corporations — like insurers and drug manufacturers. Hardworking Americans need the system to work for them too, and we don’t have time to waste.
In Washington, Congress must extend the ACA tax credits and fix essential funding for Medicaid and Medicare.
In Maine, Republicans are pushing for state conformity with the Big Beautiful Bill’s tax breaks for the wealthiest individuals and corporations. Democrats are instead working to make taxes fairer for 95% of Mainers.
When rich people and corporations get all the breaks, property taxes typically go up to make up the difference — and that’s not fair. We are working hard to convince our colleagues to pass these remedies and are asking the governor to pay attention to the unfairness and stop blocking these bills.
Enough waiting. Every lawmaker in Augusta, including Gov. Janet Mills, must back these solutions and deliver the leadership Mainers expect.
