MTDems Hosts Public Town Hall on Republican Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, August 1, 2025
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Helena, MT - The Montana Democratic Party hosted a virtual town hall last night to discuss the statewide impacts of proposed federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.
Democratic lawmakers and community stakeholders addressed the consequences the cuts will have on food security and access to healthcare, rural hospitals, indigenous communities, and reproductive care across the state of Montana.
"This bill has passed. We're going to have to deal with it,” said Representative SJ Howell. “And one of the ways we're going to have to deal with it is in the state legislature in the 2027 session, when we as a state have to prioritize spending the money to ensure that we are not letting SNAP benefits slip away for Montana families."
“I think the word ‘defund’ can be confusing,” said Quinn Leighton, Director of External Affairs with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana. “What it is, is a backdoor abortion ban. It is an attempt by extremist anti-abortion lawmakers to shutter the doors of health centers that provide abortion.”
“If they're no longer working with Medicaid clients or they're no longer open, that affects our services,” said Joel Rosette, Chief Executive Officer of the Rocky Boy Health Center. “I think of Medicaid as, you know, we're all part of this hive, and we're not able to all access that hive. That's going to affect us.”
WATCH THE COMPLETE TOWN HALL HERE
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