Alaskan's 4,000-Mile Journey to Oppose SNAP and Medicaid Cuts

Billy Stapleton embarked on an arduous 4,000-mile trek from Anchorage, Alaska, to the heart of Washington, D.C., aiming to deliver a crucial message directly to lawmakers.

"We cannot afford to cut SNAP and Medicaid just to give tax breaks to billionaires," he asserted.

Stapleton, an active member of the Alaska State Employees Association (ASEA)/AFSCME Local 52, works as an eligibility technician with Alaska’s Division of Public Assistance. He vividly described the severe impact the proposed House budget bill could have on working families in Alaska if it were passed into law.

Highlighting the unique challenges faced by rural Alaskan communities, Stapleton explained, "A lot of people out in rural communities can only transfer from village to village by airplane. If they need medical assistance, they must catch an airplane, which is very expensive."

Medicaid plays a critical role in subsidizing these necessary services, especially in Alaska. Currently, 43% of senior citizens in the state depend on Medicaid or Medicare, and 13% of children are Medicaid beneficiaries.

The budget proposal, now under Senate review, threatens to drastically cut funding, affecting not only Medicaid but also the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides essential nutrition aid to Alaskans.

Stapleton noted a startling statistic from Anchorage, where 32,000 students receive free school lunches due to their families' inability to afford food costs.

He joined forces with fellow AFSCME members through the Get Organized campaign, advocating for lawmakers to prioritize the needs of working families over billionaires by voting against the budget bill. The campaign urges the protection of essential services that support these families.

To engage in this initiative, individuals are encouraged to text GO to 237263 and Get Organized.