In a scathing takedown, the Fresno Bee Editorial Board pulled no punches: David Valadao’s “empty promises” to protect Californians’ health care were a sham, and in caving to pass the Big, Ugly Bill he showed absolutely “no profile in courage.”
One thing is clear: Valadao’s constituents deserve better than his spineless, failed leadership.
Read for yourself…
The Fresno Bee: Rep. David Valadao proves his empty vows to protect Medicaid were all lies | Opinion
- At a height of 6-feet-4, Rep. David Valadao can cast a giant presence in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, he doesn’t measure up when it comes to looking out for the best interests of his community.
- That’s because on Thursday morning, the Republican representing a heavily Medicaid-dependent district in the Central Valley cast a vote in support of a “Big Beautiful Bill”
- Since January, the representative for the 22nd Congressional District has publicly stated he would not support any effort to reduce federal spending on Medicaid, of which 68% of district residents rely on for their healthcare.
- As recently as last Saturday, Valadao stated his intent: “I’ve been clear from the start that I will not support a final reconciliation bill that makes harmful cuts to Medicaid, puts critical funding at risk, or threatens the stability of healthcare providers across CA-22”
- What happened to Valadao in five days to change his mind? For one thing, he visited the White House on Wednesday. His office didn’t provide details of that reunion, but Trump has used such meetings to pressure reluctant lawmakers to do his bidding over that of the people.
- This is the same federal lawmaker who said earlier this year that he believed Trump when the president told FOX news host Sean Hannity, “Medicare, Medicaid, none of that stuff is going to be touched. We won’t have to.”
- Democrats Jim Costa of Fresno and Adam Gray of Merced took an opposite approach. “Republicans had six months to work with Democrats on a bipartisan, responsible budget,” said Costa, whose 21st District has 54% of its residents who rely on Medicaid. “Instead, they’ve chosen to put billionaires and big corporations first at the expense of the people of the San Joaquin Valley.”
- Gray…said, “This irresponsible legislation harms our most vulnerable veterans, single parents and children, while bending over backwards to give tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy – and adds trillions to our national debt to pay for it.”
- Valadao, who represents a heavily Latino district, had no profile in courage on this bill. He chose Trump over the people he represents.
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