This Fourth of July will mark the one-year anniversary of the Dan Sullivan’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) being signed into law; legislation that is causing thousands of Alaskans to lose healthcare and food benefits, and putting hundreds more on track to lose their coverage. Ahead of the OBBBA’s one-year mark, Alaska Democratic Party Chair Eric Croft released the following statement:
“One year ago, Dan Sullivan voted to rip away healthcare, slash funding for rural hospitals and Medicaid, and take food off families’ tables. Dan Sullivan knew full well that his bill would gut the programs our state relies on, and now Alaskans are struggling to get by while he and his Lower 48 billionaire backers get richer. Self-Serving Sullivan has put Alaska last every day in DC, and he will answer for his indefensible vote at the ballot box in November.”
Sullivan was the deciding vote on the bill that he falsely claimed would strengthen healthcare in Alaska and benefit Alaska’s working families. In reality, in the year since his vote:
Alaskans’ premium costs have increased by 125%, one of the steepest increases in premium spikes in the country.
Nearly 10,000 fewer Alaskans are on Medicaid since the enactment of OBBBA.
Two clinics have closed and has five hospitals are at risk of closure.
27,000 families in Alaska are being stripped of some or all of their food benefits – including veterans – as grocery prices continue to rise.
The financial stability of 124 Alaska grocery stores and food benefit retailers has been risked.
Alaska is on a path to lose 500 jobs, $299 million in federal funding, and $290 million in state GDP by 2029.
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