The Madison City Department of Civil Rights, Disability Pride Madison, Disability Cultural Center and Access to Independence held a meeting Wednesday to inform residents of how they could be affected by potential cuts to Medicaid and other programs for people with disabilities.
Last week, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget proposal that includes at least $880 billion in spending cuts for the House Energy and Commerce committee, which oversees Medicaid. While Medicaid cuts aren't explicitly included, it’s hard to look at what is supposed to be cut and think Medicaid couldn’t be touched, said Rebecca Hoyt, disability rights and service specialist with the City of Madison.
Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin first delivered a short message for the meeting, titled “What We Could Lose,” over a video call from her office in Washington, D.C. where budget negotiations are underway.
“We hear you, and we are on your side,” Baldwin said.
Jason Beloungy, executive director of Access to Independence, an independent living center that serves the Madison region and receives much of its funding from Medicaid grants so they can provide services to people with all types of disabilities.
Set up with the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, independent living centers provide core services for people with disabilities living in communities rather than in residential care facilities.
“We are getting calls every day — when we talk to people, we don’t even need to ask about it, people are telling us that they are scared, nervous,” Beloungy said.
Beloungy cited worries from individuals he works with, including one who relies on a care worker to come to their house and help get them out of bed each morning.
Beloungy also expressed concern that potential cuts to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and fair housing boards could worsen disabled people’s ability to find housing.
“The demographic that is most impacted by housing discrimination in this country right now is folks with disabilities,” Beloungy said. “If you cut resources to entities that are there to help support and address discrimination… what do you think is going to happen? Discrimination is going to become more prevalent than it already is.”
Beloungy worries their funding was drastically cut or eliminated and that those jobs, which primarily serve people with disabilities, would go away along with the services they are able to provide.
Rep. Lisa Subeck, D-Madison, also spoke about the importance of Medicaid and encouraged people to keep sharing their stories.
“Here we don’t have to march up to Mark Pocan’s office because he’s listening to us, but in other parts of the state my colleagues joined their constituents in marching to their representatives' offices,” said Subeck. “We need to be visible to those Republican legislators, they need to know.”
Subeck told The Daily Cardinal it is important for residents to vote in upcoming elections for Wisconsin Supreme Court and state superintendent on April 1.
“While we can’t vote out the current president… you can vote for who controls our Supreme Court here in the state, you can vote on who runs our public schools here in the state and you can vote for the local elected officials who represent you and make decisions that affect your everyday life here in the city of Madison,” Subeck said.
