Michigan Workers Protest Rep. Huizenga's Support for Budget Cuts

Controversial Budget Cuts Spark Outrage Among Michigan Public Workers

In Kalamazoo, Michigan, a wave of discontent is rising among public service workers. Francisco “Paco” Perez and David Prellwitz, both dedicated members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), express their frustration over a recent legislative decision. Their dismay stems from Rep. Bill Huizenga's backing of a budget law, humorously dubbed the “big, beautiful bill,” which they argue undermines the welfare of working families in Western Michigan.

This budget legislation, passed with Huizenga's support, introduces significant reductions in vital programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These cuts, according to critics, are made to finance substantial tax breaks for billionaires, leaving many of Huizenga's constituents in a precarious situation.

In response to these developments, AFSCME members, including Perez and Prellwitz, convened in Kalamazoo to voice their opposition. They staged a demonstration featuring a large symbolic check, highlighting the financial favoritism towards billionaires at the expense of public workers.

Research from AFSCME highlights the potential impact of these cuts: 370,000 Michigan residents risk losing Medicaid benefits, while 300,000 could lose SNAP benefits. Additionally, over 41,500 jobs in Michigan may be jeopardized due to these cuts.

Francisco Perez, who has served the city of Kalamazoo for two decades and leads AFSCME Local 2775, shared his concerns. “I am angry,” Perez stated. “Congressman Bill Huizenga has made it harder for our community to thrive. … Voting to pass the one big, beautiful bill betrays public service workers like me who have put everything on the line for our community.” His personal connection to the issue is profound, as his wife, a Type 1 diabetic, relies on Medicaid. Perez fears the implications of these cuts on their access to crucial health care services.

David Prellwitz, a master gardener at Western Michigan University and vice president of AFSCME Local 1668, also expressed concerns about the community's increasing reliance on food banks like the one he helps manage. “The use of the food bank has grown exponentially in the last few years as costs have gone up for working people,” he noted. He warned that Huizenga’s decision to cut SNAP benefits could exacerbate the situation, affecting countless families across Michigan.

Prellwitz summed up the sentiment of many by saying, “All of us, no matter our circumstances, are never more than a few paychecks away from needing a little help. That is why Congressman Bill Huizenga’s vote to cut SNAP benefits in order to give handouts to billionaires is such a betrayal to Kalamazoo, to our whole community, and to every working family in Michigan.”