Rural Minnesota Rally Protests Cuts to Medicaid, SNAP for Tax Breaks

Rural Communities Rally Against New Tax Legislation Impact

In Hibbing, Minnesota, the recent enactment of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" has sparked significant concern among local communities. Nearly 100 members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), along with retirees and supporters, gathered outside Fairview Range Medical Center to voice their opposition to the legislation.

The rally, which took place last week, included representatives from AFSCME Council 5, AFSCME Council 65, and AFSCME Minnesota & Dakotas Retirees United. These groups are concerned about the significant cuts to essential programs like Medicaid and food assistance, which they argue are being sacrificed for tax breaks benefiting the wealthiest Americans.

“This is class warfare, plain and simple,” expressed Sandy Wallin, president of Northeast Minnesota AFSCME Retirees Subchapter 170. “Billionaires are cashing in while working people are being told to do more with less. But we know the truth. Public services are worth fighting for. We won’t be silent, and we won’t be sacrificed.”

Dawn Burnfin, president of AFSCME Local 1119-1 (Council 65) and an employee at Fairview Range, highlighted the potential impact on healthcare funding. “Twenty to 25% of our hospital’s revenue comes from Medicaid dollars,” she stated. “That’s not just numbers. It’s care for our parents, our kids, and our neighbors. This bill tells working people, ‘You’re on your own.’ We’re standing up to say, ‘Not on our watch.’”

Burnfin, whose family depends on Medicaid, fears the consequences if policymakers prioritize billionaires over working families. She noted that the cuts could result in thousands of healthcare job losses and leave many families in Minnesota without essential care.

Mike Larson, president of AFSCME Local 1426 (Council 5), also criticized the legislation, describing it as a “full-on assault on rural families who show up and do the work every day.” Larson, a bridge maintenance worker, emphasized the bill's focus on benefiting CEOs and the wealthiest 1%. “We see exactly who this bill was written for, and it wasn’t us,” he said. “We’re here to say enough is enough. We need leaders who will stand with working people, not sell us out.”

Larson pointed out the significant reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), warning of the risks to families already struggling. “It’s wrong to take food off people’s tables just to line the pockets of the rich. Our people deserve better,” he added.

With the bill having been signed into law earlier this month, AFSCME members are bracing for the fallout, particularly in rural areas like Minnesota’s Iron Range. Hospitals such as Fairview are already feeling the strain. Burnfin emphasized the critical role of local healthcare facilities, stating, “Our hospital is a lifeline. This isn’t about politics. It’s about survival. It’s about whether our elders can afford their prescriptions and whether a parent can get their child to a doctor without driving hours. Congress needs to come back and undo this mess. We won’t stop fighting until they do.”

The rally participants vowed to continue organizing and leveraging their collective power to protect public services and secure the wellbeing of working families.