New Storytellers Detail Devastating Impacts of Trump’s Economic Agenda on Working Families

WASHINGTON – Today, the Campaign  for a Family Friendly Economy (CFFE) released a new storybook featuring  Americans who are frustrated with Republicans’ blatant disregard for the  kitchen table economic issues that impact their everyday lives, like  the cost of child care and health care. Instead of working to lower  costs, the Trump administration and congressional Republicans are  driving an extreme policy agenda, including a budget reconciliation bill  that will cut millions of families off Medicaid, SNAP and more.

The storybook, On the Line: How the Trump Administration & Republicans in Congress are Hanging Working Families Out to Dry, comes ahead of July 4th and August recesses, when members of Congress will head home to face their constituents.

From working mothers who rely on Medicaid to provide health care for  their disabled children to school psychologists who worry about the long  lines of children waiting for school meals, CFFE’s new storybook lays  bare the cruelty of the GOP’s policy priorities.

“Working families are fighting to stay afloat as the cost of living,  and in particular, the cost of caregiving, continues to rise, all while  Republicans are slashing the programs our seniors, kids and veterans  depend on,” said Sondra Goldschein, executive director of the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy.  “These heart wrenching stories reveal the true cost of Republicans’  extreme, out-of-touch policy agenda – the health and livelihoods of  millions of hardworking Americans.”

The testimonials come from citizens in New Hampshire, Wisconsin,  Pennsylvania, Georgia and Virginia who are already struggling with high  costs and worry about the GOP’s plan to rip away programs they rely on.  They include:

• Milwaukee, Wisconsin-resident Jessica Seawright whose  son was born with a brain malformation and genetic condition that has  evolved to complex medical needs. Jessica and her husband rely on  Medicaid to provide the comprehensive care their son requires. Without  Medicaid, Jessica anticipates that on top of a monthly health care  premium of $300, her family would also need to pay the out-of-pocket  maximum of $5,000 every year – in addition to losing access to respite  care.

• Misty Clements of Adairsville, Georgia was  diagnosed with a serious, long-term disability during pregnancy. As a  new mother navigating unexpected health challenges alone, Misty was  approved for Medicaid and food assistance. These programs ensured Misty  could care for her newborn daughter while managing her health. Over the  years, Misty has said that Medicaid “saved her life” on more than one  occasion, giving her access to the physical and mental health services  she needed to be the strong and present mother her daughter deserved.

• Michelle Ritter-Santana is a school psychologist in  Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where 70-90% of her students qualify for and  rely on free school lunches. As Republicans prepare to cut food  assistance, Michelle watches the line for the school’s food pantry  stretch around the building. She worries whether her students, who see  their parents working multiple jobs and still struggling to get by, will  have food on the table.

“Republicans are failing Americans every single day — at the grocery  store checkout line, at day care pick-up and at their kitchen tables  when it comes time to pay the month’s bills,” said Goldschein. “Every  elected official who promised to bring down costs on ‘day one’ has some  explaining to do, which is likely why so many of them will continue  dodging constituents at home.”

Jessica, Misty and Michelle’s stories are just three of many. Read the full storybook here. To speak with one of the people included, please reach out to press@familyfriendlyeconomy.com.

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The Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy is fighting for a future where all people can afford to care for  themselves and their loved ones. We do this by building political power  to pass policies that lower costs for families, like paid family and  medical leave, quality, affordable child care and elder care.