FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 4, 2025
Contact: Jillian Welsh, jillian@wvcag.org
(304) 346-5891
The Big Betrayal: Less for West Virginians, More for Billionaires.
Congressional Delegation Sides with Billionaires Over the Well-Being of Their Constituents
Charleston, W.Va — “West Virginia Citizen Action Group strongly condemns Senators Capito and Justice and Representatives Miller and Moore for selling out their constituents and choosing profit over the people of West Virginia in affirming the Big Bad Bill,” says Dani Parent, Co-Executive Director of WV CAG. “This vote, and the lack of access our members and all West Virginians have had to our representatives throughout this process, puts into stark relief that they do not value the West Virginians lined up on the chopping block of this legislation:
- Approximately one in 26 of us will lose health insurance over the next few years.
- One in three of us, our neighbors, and our families rely on Medicaid in West Virginia.
- One in every 13 of our seniors or disabled residents relies on Medicaid.
- One in every 27 uses the Marketplace to secure health insurance.
- Approximately one in two children is covered by Medicaid.
“All of these West Virginians, the most vulnerable among us, will see the most suffering from the passage of this bill.”
“WV CAG accompanied dozens of West Virginians to the Hill to beg for their lives and their loved ones during this bill process, and were met in hallways or foisted onto staff. Given that the Senate moved the effective date of the Medicaid and SNAP cuts to AFTER the primary election, tells you everything you need to know: Our elected officials know this bill is bad. They know West Virginians will ultimately be hurt. They know rural hospitals will be forced to close. They know children will go hungry. They are pushing these outcomes off until they can play politics and ensure their re-elections.”
“The process and urgency around this bill were manufactured for a public relations stunt, transparency and input of the people cast aside in favor of those with greater access to our elected leaders: the big businesses who paid for them, and the billionaires who stand to gain the most from this bill. Many backroom deals were made, committee processes skipped, and opportunities to stand up for those they were elected to serve were passed over.”
“Our goal must now shift to holding our representatives accountable, continuing to speak the truth about the damage of this bill. We must also create a community where we help the most vulnerable and protect one another from the harms this bill will cause. That is who we are in West Virginia. We share our bounty with those who need it, and we continue to push forward while fighting for a better future. The West Virginia Citizen Action Group will keep fighting for the West Virginia that we all deserve, one where everyone has a right to health, dignity, and a path to prosperity.”
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