Congressman Don Bacon breaks promises on Medicaid and SNAP cuts to pay for billionaire tax handout

Local coalition criticizes Rep. Bacon’s vote to cut Medicaid and SNAP despite his previously stated “red lines”

OMAHA, Nebraska (May 22, 2025)—Today, Nebraska For Us and Congressional District 2 constituents are standing in firm opposition to Congressman Don Bacon and House Republicans’ decision to advance sweeping legislation that a Congressional Budget Office analysis shows will make the rich richer while taking from those with the lowest incomes. Nearly 30,000 people, many of whom are seniors, veterans, and working families in Congressional District 2 could lose their healthcare and SNAP if this bill is signed into law. This bill would even trigger damaging cuts to Medicare because of the high price tag.

“While taking away from working class and middle income Nebraskans to support the ultra-wealthy, Congressman Don Bacon’s betrayal to his constituents will also grow the national debt by $2.3 trillion—far from the fiscal responsibility he claims to support,” Nebraska For Us State Director Angie Lauritsen said. “Nebraska For Us has long called for a fairer tax code to support working class and middle income Nebraskans. Instead, this move will hurt people relying on key programs just so they can get the health care they need and put food on the table. From hospitals to food pantries, many companies and organizations across the state will soon feel the pinch.”

In March, Congressman Bacon said he was committed to not cutting Medicaid. In April, he went back on his word and confirmed he then supported cutting $500 billion from the health care program. At the time, he called that his “red line.” Today, he voted to cut nearly $700 billion from Medicaid that would leave up to 57,000 Nebraskans without health coverage—putting Nebraska patients and hospitals at risk.

“In recent years, my sister has relied on Medicaid for her care following an unexpected, life-altering stroke,” Omaha taxpayer Vanessa Chavez Jurado said. “My family is deeply worried about what hundreds of billions in cuts could mean for my sister as she navigates this challenging journey. Congressman Bacon’s track record of broken promises on Medicaid funding makes it impossible to trust any assurances he may try to provide us, and his vote today puts so many Nebraskans at risk of losing their health care. We are not alone in these fears.”

Bacon’s broken promises don’t stop with cuts to Medicaid. He also voted for steep cuts to SNAP that are far above what he stated he was comfortable with. As a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, he authored nearly $300 billion in cuts that put millions of kids, veterans, and seniors at risk of losing food assistance. Today, he doubled down on those cuts by voting for them on the floor. The challenges facing our area’s food pantries will likely get far worse as a result.

“Many food pantries in the Omaha metro—including the one I serve at—are already facing the strain of increased demand due to rising prices at the grocery store,” Omaha volunteer Tamara Bailey said. “The second you start cutting assistance for people who just need their next meal, the demand on nonprofits will grow significantly, and more people will go hungry. I am extremely worried whether those gaps can even be filled.”